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Table 3 Characteristics of those identified by a single indicator only compared with those identified by two or more indicators (n = 7196)

From: Conceptualizing childhood health problems using survey data: a comparison of key indicators

 

Activity limitation only (n = 38)

Severe health difficulty only (n = 351)

Chronic condition only (n = 1580)

Elevated service use only (n = 2110)

Two or more indicators (n = 3117)

 

Estimate

SI†

Estimate

SI

Estimate

SI

Estimate

SI

 

Child-specific measures

         

Age group

         

   4–6 years old, %

U

U

25.62

0.18

31.65

0.05

48.03*

0.29

34.05

   7–9 years old, %

62.05

0.48

38.80

0.00

38.64

0.00

34.55

0.08

38.61

   10–11 years old, %

U

U

35.58

0.18

29.71

0.05

17.42*

0.23

27.34

% male

46.59

0.27

57.55

0.05

53.47*

0.13

48.34*

0.23

59.88

% born in Canada

87.09

0.51

88.20

0.41

96.79

0.01

96.05

0.03

96.54

Family-specific measures

         

Income, mean (sd)

$43,337 ($51,761)

0.11

$45,429 ($47,724)

0.08

$53,780 ($58,920)

0.06

$56,239* ($103,209)

0.07

$50,330 ($61,640)

% PMKs with at least high school education

60.17

0.58

74.42

0.21

84.34

0.05

85.68

0.09

82.49

% Two-parent families

87.08

0.21

84.87

0.15

87.29*

0.23

81.77

0.08

78.52

Child health status measures

         

% Good/fair/poor health

U

U

18.58*

0.25

9.21*

0.49

10.24*

0.48

30.02

% Injured in past year

U

U

7.73*

0.22

9.71*

0.17

15.83

0.01

15.56

% Hospitalized in past year

0.00

...

0.00

...

0.00

...

8.48

0.09

11.10

% Behaviour problems

U

 

52.83

0.22

25.98*

0.33

26.69*

0.32

41.97

% Taking medication regularly

0.00

 

0.00

...

0.00

...

7.06*

0.80

43.21

Other measures

         

% reporting asthma or allergies

0.00

...

0.00

...

81.83*

0.32

0.00

...

67.38

% reporting "other" condition

0.00

...

0.00

...

10.70*

0.13

0.00

...

15.30

% with level 4 cognitive deficit (HUI)

0.00

...

72.08*

1.35

0.00

...

0.00

...

16.29

% with mild health difficulty (HUI cut-point)

U

U

0.00

...

23.36

0.01

26.07

0.08

22.73

Num. doctors visits in past year, mean (sd)

1.59* (1.77)

0.40

1.47* (2.20)

0.42

2.01* (2.23)

0.46

6.84* (12.89)

0.13

9.11 (19.08)

Num. doctors consulted in past year, mean (sd)

1.08* (0.70)

0.45

0.89* (1.24)

0.57

1.11* (1.22)

0.47

1.70* (1.41)

0.09

1.84 (1.71)

  1. All comparisons made pair-wise with those classified by two or more indicators. By definition, individuals in the uniquely defined indicator groups often did not possess a particular characteristic; in such cases, significance of the difference with the "two or more indicators" group was not assessed. Statistical significance was adjusted for multiple comparisons (significant differences, *p < 0.0125).
  2. †Effects sizes (standardized increments) refer to comparisons made with "two or more indicators" group
  3. ... Effect sizes (standardized increments) not calculated when proportion was zero in one of the two groups.
  4. These estimates should be interpreted with caution due to marginal coefficient of variation (CV, 16.6–33.3%). Estimates whose CV is greater than 33.3% are unacceptable for publication and have been suppressed (U)
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BMC Pediatrics

ISSN: 1471-2431

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