HOSPITAL UTILIZATION

In 2002, the vast majority of children were not admitted to a hospital overnight. However, children in low-income families (those with family incomes below the Federal Poverty Level) were more likely to spend at least 1 night in the hospital than children in higher-income families: 7.2 percent of low-income children had hospital stays of at least 1 night, compared to 5.9 percent of children in higher-income families. In addition, hospital stays lasting 4 nights or longer were more common among children in low-income families than children in higher-income families. The proportion of children staying between 1 and 3 nights was similar in the two income groups.

[d]