Disability and economic disadvantage

The association of socioeconomic disadvantage and the onset of chronic disabling conditions in childhood is well known although whether socioeconomic disadvantage is on the causal pathway to, or arises as a consequence of childhood chronic disabling conditions is less clear. Nick Spencer and Lyndall Strazdins report a longitudinal study comparing children who developed a chronic disabling condition between 6/7 and 10/11 years with children without a chronic disabling condition at either age. Chronic disabling conditions included physical conditions, learning difficulties, hearing and visual problems (all >6 months with functional restriction). If potential confounders were considered (maternal chronic disabling condition, lone parent) children in the lower income quintile had a two and half times greater odds of chronic disabling condition onset than those in the highest centile. Over the study period income increased across the whole sample although less in chronic disabling condition onset households than no chronic disabling condition onset households (165 AUD, p<0.033). In some respects the data is predictable—more chronic disabling conditions in children from poorer families and once there is a child with a chronic disabling condition in a family unit the families finances will deteriorate. The challenge is how to best deal with …