Report Finds Ethnic Disparities, Improvements Among Los Angeles County Youths in Some Health Measures
From 2000 to 2002, although the number of child immunizations in Los Angeles County increased by 10% and the number of pregnant women receiving prenatal care increased by 4%, geographic and ethnic disparities persist, according to a report scheduled to be released Wednesday by the county's Children's Planning Council, the Los Angeles Times reports. The report, called the Children's Scorecard, analyzed county data from 1998 through 2002 and is the first scorecard to provide ethnic and geographic detail about issues such as child health, safety and economic security.
The scorecard found that from 2000 to 2002:
- The percentage of children in Los Angeles County fully immunized by age two increased to 73% from 63%;
- Prenatal care increased to 88% from 84%; and
- Births among females ages 10 to 17 decreased to nine per 1,000 from 14 per 1,000.
The report found that in 2002 about 16% of African-American children had asthma, compared with 8% among all ethnic groups countywide. About 22% of non-Hispanic white children had specialized health needs, compared with 15% of all children in Los Angeles County, according to the report.
Latino children were more likely to be overweight in grades five, seven and nine than children of other ethnic backgrounds, the report found. In addition, the birthrate for females ages 10 to 17 was higher for Latinos -- 13 per 1,000 -- than for other ethnic groups in Los Angeles County.
CPC Executive Director Yolie Flores Aguilar said, "We're making progress, and that really is the good news. But unfortunately, that progress does not translate into good news for all kids. The report highlights how tremendous the disparities still are, for Latino and African-American children especially" (Rivera, Los Angeles Times, 10/27).
The report is available online. Note: You must have Adobe Acrobat Reader to view this document.