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M9640693.TXT
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Document 0693
DOCN M9640693
TI The prevalence of grandmothers as primary caregivers in a poor pediatric
population.
DT 9604
AU Joslin D; Brouard A; Department of Community Health, William Paterson
College of New; Jersey, Wayne 07470, USA.
SO J Community Health. 1995 Oct;20(5):383-401. Unique Identifier : AIDSLINE
MED/96122357
AB In the wake of the HIV/AIDS and crack cocaine epidemics, poor urban
communities face growing numbers of older adults, largely grandmothers,
who have become surrogate parents to children orphaned by these
epidemics. This study is the first in the United States to determine the
prevalence of older surrogate parents among families registered at
pediatric clinics. The three clinics selected were in low income
neighborhoods of New York City with a high incidence of female HIV/AIDS
and substance abuse. Using a 50% random sample of 1,375 records of
registered families, data were obtained on the number and ages of
relatives serving as surrogate parents. In 11% of these 1,375 families
with children 12 years and under a parent was not the caregiver. In 8%
the caregiver was a grandmother. Forty-seven percent of these women were
55 years or older, 25% were 60 years or older and 8% were 70 years or
older. Most of these women were caring for more than one child. Ten
percent of the total of 2,445 children, 12 years and under, lived in
non-parent headed families. Eight percent lived with a grandmother, 1%
with other parental generation relatives and 1% in foster care. Given
the stresses associated with caregiving in late life and the greater
risk of poor health among low income African-American and Hispanic
elderly, older surrogate parents from these communities are a
potentially high health risk population whose own needs may go
unrecognized and unattended. The young ages of the children suggest that
many grandparents may continue to be caregivers as they reach their
sixties, seventies and even eighties. Clinical and longitudinal data are
needed to determine how prolonged surrogate parenting in late life
affects the health of older caregivers and the children in their care.
Coordination between health and social services for the elderly and for
children are needed to promote effective programs for these families.
DE Aged *Caregivers/PSYCHOLOGY Child *Child Care/STATISTICS & NUMER DATA
*Family Characteristics Female Health Services Needs and Demand Human
Middle Age New York City *Poverty Public Policy Random Allocation
Social Problems JOURNAL ARTICLE
SOURCE: National Library of Medicine. NOTICE: This material may be
protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).