Role of Gender, Race, and Socioeconomic Class in Childhood - Essay Example

Despite these limitations, there are valid data that suggest that ADHD seems to have a higher rate of occurrence in white children than in black children in the USA (1.7% to 4.4% in 1997) according to treatment records obtained by physicians. (Olfson, Gameroff et al. 2003).  Also, the national epidemiological survey in the UK showed a lower prevalence of ADHD in black children than in white children (0.4% to 1.6%) (Meltzer, Gatward, et al. 2000).  There is the postulation that cases of ADHD in black children could have been under-diagnosed in these societies simply because black families possibly lack access to health facilities due to poorer economic status.  This argument may not be valid considering that even higher access to facilities by black families has not resulted in an increased diagnosis of cases of ADHD in them.  Moreover, the U.K epidemiological survey cuts across racial and socioeconomic barriers.  Having said this, the theory of under-diagnosis could not be overlooked in light of the high subjectivity of the diagnostic parameters. 

Among ethnic minority American children with ADHD, service utilization in the treatment of the condition is very low. Various factors are responsible for this, which include economic, cultural, as well as social barriers.  The ADHD Help-Seeking model is a basis of understanding factors that are predictive of service access and utilization, to use such understanding to break the barrier to service utilization in ADHD treatment (Giraldi, Mazzuca et, al. 2006).  The model proposes that for effective treatment, there must first be problem identification on the part of the affected, and then the decision to seek help must follow. Also, service selection and service access by the affected are integral parts of the model pathway. It is believed that through its predictive nature, the model will provide answers to various questions regarding disparities in access to healthcare by various ethnic and racial groups. (Eiraldi, Mazzuca et al. 2006).  The model however needs to be made stronger by reconstructing it on factors that are less general and are more specific for affected groups, so that individual needs could be more effectively met (Giraldi, Mazzuc, et al. 2006). 

Cultural influences could play a very significant role in the Teacher and Parent Ratings across cultural divides (Olfson, Gameroff, et al. 2003).  The prevalence rates for ADHD from 1997-2001 among African American, Hispanic and White children (6-11 years old) were obtained using a National Health Interview Survey.  Information was obtained from parents about the health and socio-demographic characteristics of their children.  Drug therapy history was taken.  Again, White children were found to have the highest rate of ADHD than any other ethnic group, though the occurrence of learning disability was higher in the African American and Hispanic children.   About 1% of Hispanic children were reported to have ADHD without LD, against 4% white children. Compared to white children, the percentage of African American children that were reported to have ADHD without LD was 2% against 4%.  Equal percentages of Hispanic and white children were reported to have LD without ADHD, while a greater percentage of African American children had LD without ADHD, compared to white children (6% against 4%) (Pastor and Reuben July-August, 2005). The disparity in the prevalence of ADHD was found not to be a factor of health, or social status (Pastor and Reuben July-August, 2005). 

A significant relationship seems to exist between maternal mental status and ADHD.  Using a 1998 survey datum, a Survey Logistics Regression procedure which analyzed 9529 mother-child dyads established a relationship between maternal activity-limiting conditions such as depression, anxiety, or emotional problem and ADHD in their children.  A mother of an ADHD child was found to have 13 times more chances of having consulted a psychiatrist in the past year about her child’s mental health than the mother of a non-ADHD child despite their claim that they could not afford drugs that were prescribed (odds ratio 3.3; 95%, confidence interval 2.2-4.9), and that they could not afford mental health care (odds ratio 7.4; 95%, confidence interval 4.6, 11.8%). These figures were regardless of the age, race, or sex of the child  (Lesesne, Visser, et al. 2003).  This report is however inconclusive because there is the possibility that a mother of a child that is diagnosed with ADHD could indeed have developed a chronic, activity-limiting mental condition as a result of the stress of caring for an ADHD child. It could also happen that parents with chronic mental conditions have higher chances of having their children diagnosed with ADHD simply because they are close to mental healthcare providers. Also, information is limited on the nature of maternal mental health other than being chronic and activity-limiting. (Lesesne, Visser, et al. 2003)