Kids from low-income households less likely to have regular doctor

A doctor can be seen examining a patient in this undated file photo. (File)

Albertan children and youth from low-income households are 1.5 times less likely to have a regular healthcare provider, according to data from Statistics Canada.

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Results from the Canadian Health Survey on Children and Youth, provided by StatsCan to Great West Media, show about 10 per cent of children and youth aged 1 to 21 from households in the lowest income group don’t have a regular healthcare provider, compared to 6 per cent of kids from the highest income households.

A recent analysis of the survey results by StatsCan found that while disparities in access varied between provinces, differences between high- and low-income groups were more significant than other factors like level a parent’s level of education or rurality.

On average, 91 per cent of youth residing in rural areas of Canada and 92 percent of those in urban areas had a regular healthcare provider.

Access to a regular healthcare provider is also shown to decrease as a child ages. All but six per cent of kids aged 1 to 4 had a regular healthcare provider, but this amount nearly doubles to 11 per cent for youth aged 12 to 17.

About 15 per cent of adults in Alberta don’t have a regular healthcare provider, which can include family doctors, general practitioners, nurse practitioners and medical specialists.

In Alberta, the top three reasons given for why a child or youth doesn’t have a regular healthcare provider are because no one in the area is taking new patients, no one in the area is available, and their previous provider has left or retired.

Research has shown having a consistent primary care provider allows health professionals to build a better understanding of a patient’s medical history, and improves prevention, detection and early treatment of illness or health problems.

Barriers to receiving consistent and timely care “are especially concerning for children and youth, who require a strong primary care foundation for healthy development and overall physical and mental well-being.

“Early and consistent access to health care helps ensure that children and youth grow up with the support they need for a healthy future,” the StatsCan report says.