The families of the child research council: A study of families whose children are similar to those in urban pediatric practice

Abstract

Summary A majority of Child Research Council families are living outside ofthe undesirable areas of the city as revealed by relief reports, delinquency records, infant mortality rates, and building zone regulations. Our families are well above average for Denver or for the generalpopulation of the country in income levels, in per cent of native-born parents, and in the following items as scored on the Minnesota Home Index scale: occupational status, education, social and cultural status in the community. In size of family and in facilities for the children, they are near theaverage for the community. Although there are individual differences in practice, or in the cityin which a given pediatrician may be working, he may find in this study a base line from which to start. It is hoped that the data presented may be of some value as well to the general practitioner and other professional people treating or studying a series similar to ours. It is also to be hoped that this brief cross-sectional type of analysis may stimulate others to study these social and economic factors throughout the growth span of the child. Such information is essential if we are to understand individuals well enough to appraise adequately the problems they so often present.