Childcare as a social determinant of access to healthcare: a scoping review

IntroductionAs health systems strive to screen for and address social determinants of health (SDOH), the role of access to childcare and barriers to healthcare posed by childcare needs remains underexplored. A gap exists in synthesizing existing evidence on the role of access to childcare as a SDOH....

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Main Authors: Megan McArthur, Persephone Tian, Kimberly A. Kho, Kavita P. Bhavan, Bijal A. Balasubramanian, Anisha P. Ganguly
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2024-12-01
Series:Frontiers in Public Health
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1443992/full
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author Megan McArthur
Persephone Tian
Kimberly A. Kho
Kavita P. Bhavan
Kavita P. Bhavan
Bijal A. Balasubramanian
Bijal A. Balasubramanian
Anisha P. Ganguly
author_facet Megan McArthur
Persephone Tian
Kimberly A. Kho
Kavita P. Bhavan
Kavita P. Bhavan
Bijal A. Balasubramanian
Bijal A. Balasubramanian
Anisha P. Ganguly
author_sort Megan McArthur
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionAs health systems strive to screen for and address social determinants of health (SDOH), the role of access to childcare and barriers to healthcare posed by childcare needs remains underexplored. A gap exists in synthesizing existing evidence on the role of access to childcare as a SDOH.MethodsThis scoping review aimed to examine and analyze existing literature on the role of childcare needs as a social determinant of access to healthcare. We conducted a structured literature search across PubMed, Scopus, health policy fora, and professional healthcare societies to inclusively aggregate studies across interdisciplinary sources published between January 2000 and June 2023. Two independent reviewers reviewed results to determine inclusions and exclusions. Studies were coded into salient themes utilizing an iterative inductive approach.ResultsAmong 535 search results, 526 met criteria for eligibility screening. Among 526 eligible studies, 91 studies met inclusion criteria for analysis. Five key themes were identified through data analysis: (1) barriers posed by childcare needs to healthcare appointments, (2) the opportunity for alternative care delivery models to overcome childcare barriers, (3) the effect of childcare needs on participation in medical research, (4) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on childcare needs, and (5) the disproportionate burden of childcare experienced by vulnerable populations.DiscussionChildcare needs remain underexplored in existing research. Current evidence demonstrates the relevance of childcare needs as a barrier to healthcare access, however dedicated studies are lacking. Future research is needed to understand mechanisms of childcare barriers in access to healthcare and explore potential interventions.
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spelling doaj-art-d3d4180c2c964f099e0b620bb224a4ba2024-12-03T16:49:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Public Health2296-25652024-12-011210.3389/fpubh.2024.14439921443992Childcare as a social determinant of access to healthcare: a scoping reviewMegan McArthur0Persephone Tian1Kimberly A. Kho2Kavita P. Bhavan3Kavita P. Bhavan4Bijal A. Balasubramanian5Bijal A. Balasubramanian6Anisha P. Ganguly7University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United StatesUniversity of Texas Southwestern Medical School, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United StatesDivision of Gynecology, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United StatesCenter of Innovation and Value at Parkland, Parkland Health, Dallas, TX, United StatesDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, United StatesDepartment of Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United StatesInstitute for Implementation Science, School of Public Health, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, United StatesDivision of General Medicine and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, United StatesIntroductionAs health systems strive to screen for and address social determinants of health (SDOH), the role of access to childcare and barriers to healthcare posed by childcare needs remains underexplored. A gap exists in synthesizing existing evidence on the role of access to childcare as a SDOH.MethodsThis scoping review aimed to examine and analyze existing literature on the role of childcare needs as a social determinant of access to healthcare. We conducted a structured literature search across PubMed, Scopus, health policy fora, and professional healthcare societies to inclusively aggregate studies across interdisciplinary sources published between January 2000 and June 2023. Two independent reviewers reviewed results to determine inclusions and exclusions. Studies were coded into salient themes utilizing an iterative inductive approach.ResultsAmong 535 search results, 526 met criteria for eligibility screening. Among 526 eligible studies, 91 studies met inclusion criteria for analysis. Five key themes were identified through data analysis: (1) barriers posed by childcare needs to healthcare appointments, (2) the opportunity for alternative care delivery models to overcome childcare barriers, (3) the effect of childcare needs on participation in medical research, (4) the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on childcare needs, and (5) the disproportionate burden of childcare experienced by vulnerable populations.DiscussionChildcare needs remain underexplored in existing research. Current evidence demonstrates the relevance of childcare needs as a barrier to healthcare access, however dedicated studies are lacking. Future research is needed to understand mechanisms of childcare barriers in access to healthcare and explore potential interventions.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1443992/fullchildcaresocial determinants of healthaccess to healthcarecaregiverhealth-related social needhealth equity
spellingShingle Megan McArthur
Persephone Tian
Kimberly A. Kho
Kavita P. Bhavan
Kavita P. Bhavan
Bijal A. Balasubramanian
Bijal A. Balasubramanian
Anisha P. Ganguly
Childcare as a social determinant of access to healthcare: a scoping review
Frontiers in Public Health
childcare
social determinants of health
access to healthcare
caregiver
health-related social need
health equity
title Childcare as a social determinant of access to healthcare: a scoping review
title_full Childcare as a social determinant of access to healthcare: a scoping review
title_fullStr Childcare as a social determinant of access to healthcare: a scoping review
title_full_unstemmed Childcare as a social determinant of access to healthcare: a scoping review
title_short Childcare as a social determinant of access to healthcare: a scoping review
title_sort childcare as a social determinant of access to healthcare a scoping review
topic childcare
social determinants of health
access to healthcare
caregiver
health-related social need
health equity
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2024.1443992/full
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