High Prevalence of Diaper Insecurity in Urban Pediatric Populations

A recent cross-sectional study conducted across nine urban Federally Qualified Health Centers has revealed that 41% of children aged 0 to 36 months experience diaper insecurity. The research, published in the journal Pediatrics, involved screening 7,700 pediatric patients out of a total of 16,677 for diaper-related concerns. The findings indicate that diaper insecurity is particularly prevalent among non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic children, with rates of 45.0% and 39.9%, respectively. Notably, children whose primary communication language was Haitian Creole showed a much higher prevalence at 66%.

The study also highlighted a significant intersection between diaper insecurity and various social determinants of health. Families facing food insecurity, transportation challenges, homelessness, housing instability, and financial hardship reported higher rates of diaper insecurity, with 78%, 65%, 72%, 71%, and 88% experiencing these social risks, respectively. Additionally, nearly half of the households received benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Researchers observed that diaper insecurity was associated with multiple adverse outcomes, including maternal depression, low birth weight, fewer toilet training difficulties, and increased visits to emergency departments. The authors emphasize that integrating diaper insecurity screening into healthcare systems offers opportunities to connect vulnerable families with essential resources and address broader social issues impacting child health.

This study underscores the importance of addressing social determinants in pediatric healthcare to improve outcomes and reduce disparities. It advocates for routine screening of diaper insecurity as part of comprehensive child health assessments.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-09-prevalence-diaper-insecurity-urban-health.html