| The National Survey of Children’s Health
took several approaches to monitoring the health and well-being of
children. This section presents information on children’s health
status, their health care, and their activities in and outside of
school. Taken together, these measures present a snapshot of children’s
health and well-being that reflects a wide range of aspects of their
lives. Children’s health status was
measured through parents’ reports of their children’s
overall health status as well as whether they were affected by specific
conditions, such as asthma. In addition, parents were asked about
their concerns about their children’s development and behavior,
and about the impact of their children’s health conditions
on the child and the family as a whole.
Children’s access to health care and parents’
satisfaction with the health care their children receive were measured
through questions about children’s health insurance coverage,
their use of preventive medical and dental services, their access
to needed mental health services, and the communication skills and
cultural sensitivity of their children’s health care providers.
Several survey questions were also combined to assess whether children
had a “medical home,” a source of primary care that
is accessible, family-centered, continuous, comprehensive, coordinated,
compassionate, and culturally effective.
Children’s participation in activities in school
and in the community represents another important aspect of their
well-being. The survey addressed whether young children went to
preschool or kindergarten, and whether school-aged children had
ever repeated a grade. In addition, parents were asked about their
children’s participation in activities such as reading for
pleasure, volunteering, working for pay, and other activities outside
of school.
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