PHYSICIAN VISITS
In 2000, approximately 13 percent of children under
age 18 had not seen a physician in the past year.
Older children were more likely to go without a physician
visit compared to younger children. Nearly 17 percent
of children between 10-17 years had not had a physician
visit in the past year compared to 13 percent of children
ages 5-9 and 6.5 percent under age 5. In all age groups,
Hispanic children were nearly twice as likely as white
children not to have a physician visit. During 2000,
5.6 percent of white, 5.6 percent of black, and 9.5
percent of Hispanic children age 4 or under were not
seen by a physician; this gap widened with age. Black
children were more likely than white but less likely
Hispanic children to have a physician visit in the
past year.
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that
children have eight health care visits in their first
year, three times in their second year, and once a
year, generally, from middle childhood throughout
adolescence.
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