Some children have chronic physical or mental health problems, such as asthma or emotional or behavioral problems, which may have an impact on the child. Overall, 7.9 percent of children are reported by their parents to have a moderate or severe health condition. The occurrence of moderate or severe health conditions among children varies slightly by area of residence. Children living in large rural areas are most often reported by parents to have such health conditions (9.0 percent). The rate of such health conditions among children living in small rural areas is reported to be 8.1 percent, while the lowest rate, 7.7 percent, occurs among children living in urban areas.

Overall, boys are more likely to have moderate or severe health conditions than girls, regardless of location. For both sexes, moderate or severe health conditions are most likely to be reported among children living in large rural areas. Among boys, such health conditions are least likely to occur in urban areas; among girls, they are least likely to occur in small rural areas.

Moderate or severe health conditions become less common among children with increasing family income. With regard to area of residence, moderate or severe health conditions are generally more prevalent in large and small rural areas, except among children with family incomes of 200- 399 percent of the Federal poverty level; among these children, such health conditions are most commonly reported in urban locations.