Pediatricians might soon be asking every family about their financial struggles.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is recommending in its new policy statement that all doctors begin asking parents during their children's wellness checkups about any difficulties that they might have with making ends meet. The experts said screening for poverty should become an important part of child care, especially since growing evidence suggests that poverty can be a risk factor for health issues.
"Pediatricians are dedicated to preventing illness in children and intervening early when there is a problem," James Duffee, one of the authors of the policy, said in a news release. "Because poverty so strongly influences children's health and development, pediatricians are asking about poverty-related stress so we can connect families to resources in their communities."
The experts are advising pediatricians to ask this one question: "Do you have difficulty making ends meet at the end of the month?" Families who answer yes will then be directed to community programs that can help provide them with the necessary resources, such as food and housing.
In the statement, the authors detailed how poverty can affect children's physical and mental health. They cited studies that linked poverty to lifelong physical illnesses, such as asthma and obesity, which are also risk factors for other health conditions. In terms of mental health, the experts pointed out that poverty could lead to social development issues, behavioral disorders and psychiatric conditions.
"We know that poverty-related conditions can take a significant and lasting toll," said John M. Pascoe, the lead author of the report. "But we also know there are effective interventions to help buffer these effects, like promoting strong family relationships, which cause positive changes in the body's stress response system and the architecture of the developing brain."
The experts hope that by adding poverty to doctors' checklists, more progress can be made to lower child poverty rates within the U.S. The 2014 Census data reported that one in five children under 18 live in poverty.
"Fifty years ago, the U.S. came together and nearly eliminated poverty in the elderly," AAP President Benard P. Dreyer said. "It's time to do the same for children."
The policy statement was published in the journal, Pediatrics.
