Individual sociodemographic characteristics associated with hospitalization for pediatric ambulatory care sensitive conditions

This study examined the association of individual socio-demographic charact eristics with pediatric ambulatory care sensitive condition (ACSC) hospital izations in American hospitals while controlling for selected hospital char acteristics. Data came from the 1994 National Hospital Discharge Survey. Bi variate statistical comparisons were per formed to test the differences bet ween ACSC and non-ACSC hospitalization rates in patient demographic and hos pital characteristics. Logistic regression was followed to examine the rela tive significance of patient and hospital characteristics associated with p ediatric ACSC hospitalizations. Such individual sociodemographic characteri stics as age, race, and insurance status were significant predictors of ACS C hospitalization. Younger children were more likely to have ACSC hospitali zation than older ones. Black children were 1.653 times more likely than wh ite children to be hospitalized for ACSC (confidence interval = 1.53-1.79). Those with Medicaid or no secondary insurance were more likely to be hospi talized for ACSC than those with private insurance or with secondary insura nce.