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. 2013 Oct;97(10):685-95.
doi: 10.1002/bdra.23173. Epub 2013 Sep 2.

Factors associated with distance and time traveled to cleft and craniofacial care

Cynthia H Cassell  1 , Anne Krohmer, Dara D Mendez, Kyung A Lee, Ronald P Strauss, Robert E Meyer
Affiliations

Factors associated with distance and time traveled to cleft and craniofacial care

Cynthia H Cassell et al. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2013 Oct.

Abstract

Background: Information on travel distance and time to care for children with birth defects is lacking. We examined factors associated with travel distance and time to cleft care among children with orofacial clefts.

Methods: In 2006, a mail/phone survey was administered in English and Spanish to all resident mothers of children with orofacial clefts born 2001 to 2004 and identified by the North Carolina birth defects registry. We analyzed one-way travel distance and time and the extent to which taking a child to care was a problem. We used multivariable logistic regression to examine the association between selected sociodemographic factors and travel distance (≤60 miles and >60 miles) and time (≤60 min and >60 min) to cleft care.

Results: Of 475 eligible participants, 51.6% (n = 245) responded. Of the respondents, 97.1% (n = 238) were the child's biological mother. Approximately 83% (n = 204) of respondents were non-Hispanic White; 33.3% (n = 81) were college educated; and 50.0% (n = 115) had private health insurance. One-way mean and median travel distances were 80 and 50 miles, respectively (range, 0-1058 miles). One-way mean and median travel times were 92 and 60 min, respectively (range, 5 min to 8 hr). After adjusting for selected sociodemographics, travel distance varied significantly by maternal education, child's age, and cleft type. Travel time varied significantly by child's age. Approximately 67% (n = 162) reported taking their child to receive care was not a problem.

Conclusion: Approximately 48% of respondents traveled > 1 hr to receive cleft care. Increasing access to care may be important for improving health outcomes among this population.

Keywords: barriers to care; cleft lip; cleft palate; health care accessibility; orofacial clefts; travel distance; travel time.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflict of interest to declare.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Survey respondents’ reported average one-way travel distance to primary cleft and craniofacial care for their child with orofacial clefts in North Carolina, 2001 to 2004 (N = 232).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Survey respondents’ reported average one-way travel time to primary cleft and craniofacial care for their child with orofacial clefts in North Carolina, 2001 to 2004 (N = 242).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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