A child’s general health status (as perceived by his/her parents) is a useful measure of his/her overall health and ability to function. Parents were asked to rate their child’s health status as excellent, very good, good, fair, or poor. Regardless of location, approximately 84 percent of children are reported by their parents to be in excellent or very good health. Of children living in urban areas, 84.0 percent are reported to be in excellent or very good health; the same is true of 84.2 percent of children in large rural areas and 84.5 percent of children in small rural areas.

Overall, younger children are more likely than older children to be in excellent or very good health. However, within each age group child health status does not vary considerably by area of residence. Among children from birth through age 5, 86.0 percent located in an urban area are reported to be in excellent or very good health, while the same is true of 85.9 percent of the youngest children living in large rural areas, and 85.1 percent of the youngest children living in small rural areas. A similar pattern is seen among children 6-11 years of age, and 12-17 years of age.

Child health status varies more noticeably across residence within different racial and ethnic groups. Among White children, those living in urban areas are most often reported to be in excellent or very good health (91.5 percent), while those living in large rural areas are least likely to be in excellent or very good health (87.8 percent). As with White children, Black children are most likely to be reported by their parents to be in excellent or very good health if they live in an urban area (79.7 percent), however those living in small rural areas are least likely to be in excellent or very good health (72.3 percent). Among Hispanic children, those living in a large rural area are most likely to be in excellent or very good health (69.8 percent); among Hispanics living in small or isolated areas, only 59.8 percent are reported to be in excellent or very good health. At approximately 85 percent, the parent-reported health status of American Indian/Alaska Native children does not vary considerably by area of residence.