Maternal Health-Seeking on Behalf of Low-Income Children

Background Women receiving Medicaid account for almost one‐third of the childbearing population in the United States, an extensive investment for federal and state governments. Gaps and conflicting research results exist that explain/predict maternal health‐seeking behavior for vulnerable children. Public health nurses (PHN) need evidence to design interventions that improve maternal health‐seeking and child health outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine factors: maternal (key influences), child, and household that contribute to maternal health‐seeking behavior. Methods The design was a descriptive, correlational, longitudinal study (n = 1,141 mother‐child dyads). Results Children were more likely to receive preventive medical care if they had a medical condition (OR: 1.60, p