A child’s health includes physical, mental and social well-being. Arizona parents know, for the most part, the basics of keeping their children healthy, like offering them healthy foods, making sure they get enough rest and exercise, and keeping them safe. The web links on this focus page, however, may be helpful in pointing out important local information resources to assist them with these tasks. The links also point to a number of sites that address specific health concerns and problems affecting children. Issues that are important to Arizona’s children, addressed here and on other AZHealthInfo focus pages, include environmental factors, poisoning prevention, immunizations, nutrition, exercise, diabetes, obesity, swimming pool safety, child safety seats in automobiles, autism, hyperactivity, child abuse, school and education, and childhood diseases.
Although childhood is variously defined1, the state of Arizona, for statistical purposes, considers childhood as being between the ages of 1 and 14. According to 2005 census projections, Arizona has 1,257,269 children who fall within this age bracket.2 That same year, 2005, we also know of 285 Arizona children who died. The state closely monitors child fatality statistics annually and makes recommendations for reducing preventable childhood deaths. Unfortunately some racial disparities in Arizona mortality rates continue to exist. Urban females had the lowest mortality rate, followed by urban males, then rural females, with rural males having the highest mortality rate.3
Children everywhere tend to be more accident prone than adults. In 2005, children had the highest number of emergency department visits in Arizona, with 29.9 visits for 100 children, and the annual rate of injury-related emergency department visits was 7.4 visits for every 100 children.4 Knowing when to seek professional medical help is important to our children’s well-being.
Lower-income families who care for children should be aware of Arizona’s special assistance programs aimed at children who might otherwise be without access to health care or insurance. (e.g. KidsCare is Arizona's health insurance for children under 19).
