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Health Care Use Among Rural, Low-Income Women and Children: Results from a 2-Stage Negative Binomial Model

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Abstract

Determinants of healthcare use among rural, low-income mothers and children were assessed using a 2-stage negative binomial model of joint mother/child choices and data from a multi-state, longitudinal study, Rural Families Speak. Maternal healthcare use increased with higher depression scores, chronic conditions, new medical conditions, number of children, pediatric visits, prenatal/post-partum needs, and health insurance coverage. Maternal visits decreased with lower income, age, child’s chronic conditions, and child’s private health insurance. Pediatric visits increased with new medical conditions, greater number of chronic conditions, and maternal health visits. Pediatric visits decreased with maternal depression, pregnancy, Latina and African American mothers, more children, and private health insurance coverage. The 2-stage model shows mothers simultaneously choose healthcare visits for themselves and their child.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported in part by USDA/CSREES/NRICGP Grant Numbers 2001-35401-10215 & 2002-35401-11591, 2004-35401-14938. Data were collected in conjunction with the cooperative multi-state research project, NC-223/NC-1011, “Rural Low–Income Families: Monitoring Their Well-being and Functioning in the Context of Welfare Reform.” Cooperating states are California, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, and Oregon.The authors gratefully acknowledge the assistance of Megan Gay, undergraduate research assistant, University of Massachusetts Amherst.

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  1. Department of Biostatistics, George Washington University, 1922 F ST NW, Room 301J, Washington, DC, 20052, USA

    Swetha Valluri

  2. Department of Resource Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 309 Stockbridge Hall, Amherst, MA, 01003, USA

    Sheila Mammen

  3. Department of Resource Economics, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 211 Stockbridge Hall, Amherst, 01003, MA, USA

    Daniel Lass

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  1. Swetha Valluri
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Correspondence to Swetha Valluri.

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Valluri, S., Mammen, S. & Lass, D. Health Care Use Among Rural, Low-Income Women and Children: Results from a 2-Stage Negative Binomial Model. J Fam Econ Iss 36, 154–164 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10834-014-9424-1

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