"#Native American children #American Indian #RacialDiscrimination"

The rates of disability among U.S. children are increasing, with the highest rate of disability among Native American children, according to a newly released brief by the U.S. Census Bureau.

More than 3 million children in the U.S. had a disability in 2019, slightly up from data collected more than a decade ago.

But a disproportionate number of Native American children (5.9%) had a disability, followed by children of more than one race (5.2%) and Black children (5.1%). Household income also appeared to play a role, with 6.5% of children living below the poverty line having a disability, as compared to 3.8% of children living in families with incomes above the poverty threshold.

"There are decades of evidence that these particular racial and ethnic groups, especially American Indian, Native American groups and Black Americans, have poor access to care, and also may not have access to the same quality of health care services," said Dr. Regan Bergmark, an otolaryngologist at Boston's Brigham and Women's Hospital with an interest in addressing health care disparities.

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Bergmark said screening programs can be an important first step in identifying disabilities that may benefit from early intervention and treatment. A disability includes problems with seeing or hearing, thinking, walking and other disabilities that affect day-to-day living. But these conditions also negatively impact a child's future employment and socialization.

A lack of access to high-quality care can be a major contributor to the higher rates of disability. Native American children and their families have historically had inadequate prenatal care, higher rates of premature birth and exposure to environmental stressors. Some live in rural or remote communities where they may experience difficulty with transportation to appointments and higher wait times. Finding primary care providers and pediatricians who understand the unique cultural needs of these children can also pose a challenge.