In their article “Children in family foster care have greater health risks and less involvement in Child Health Services” Köhler, M., Emmelin, M., Hjern, A., and Rosvall M. examine the disadvantages that children face being in foster care. The major aim of their article is to examine the impact of children’s being in family foster care on their health. In order to do this the authors made a research with the help of which they were able to thoroughly examine the issue. They are rather persuasive as their research is supported by numerous evidences and statistics. All in all, Köhler et. all managed to prove that children in foster families suffer from much higher health risks.
First of all, Köhler and other researchers start their article with the words from Convention on the Rights of the child. According to it, “every child has the right to enjoy the “highest attainable standard of health”, to receive treatment and rehabilitation for illnesses” (qtd. in Köhler et. all). Afterwards the researchers question whether these rights are followed in foster care. The authors of the article mentioned that according to numerous studies, there are many health risks and health issues among children in foster care. Quite often such children face physical as well as mental health problems. In order to better understand this problem the authors decided to carry out a research. The researchers used the information about one hundred children who were born in Sweden. The data on preschool and school children was used. It is also worth of note that for their research the authors used only credible information that was provided by Child Health Services (CHS) and Social Services. According to Köhler and other researchers, they “analysed the CHS health records to get information about health detrimentants and participation in the CHS” (Köhler et. all).
All in all, the results of the research proved that children in foster care are more likely to suffer from health problems. Such children may often have problems with both their physical and psychological health. The data gathered by the researchers only proves it. Thus, according to the data provided by the researchers, breastfeeding was rare for children who lived in foster families. Moreover, Köhler et. all found out that parental smoking was much more common in foster families as well. As a result, children who lived in foster families suffered from more health problems in comparison to those in the control group. Moreover, it is mainly young children who suffer most.
Furthermore, during their research Köhler et. all examined the way foster families participated in CHS. The authors found out that in foster care “most indicators of preventative child healthcare participation, such as recommended visits and screening procedures, were lower” (Köhler et. all). For instance, the statistics shows that such children didn't participate in immunisation programme often enough. Some children received immunisation much later than they were supposed to. Some of them didn't receive it at all. The researchers also point to the fact that children have missed some of the significant screenings as well. The visits to CHS physicians were much lower as well. Another problem discovered by the researchers lies in the fact that although children in foster care were registered in CHS, they often missed some of their appointments. It mostly happened due to the fact that foster families moved and changed their place of living more often or due to some social problems that appeared at times. According to statistics, “foster care group had four times as many missed appointments than the control group” ( Köhler et. all). However, the truth is that all these missed appointments may undoubtedly affect children’s health and may contribute to numerous problems. They may cause problems with both physical and mental health. During their research the authors also emphasize the fact that at present time health monitoring in foster care may be described as rather poor. As a result, Köhler and other researchers arrived at conclusion that children in foster care are more likely to have health risks.
Considering the results of their research, the authors also mentioned the possible ways to improve the existing situation. The researchers emphasize the fact that children in foster care should have equal opportunities for health care. Indeed, their health care should be the main priority of CHS and social services. According to Köhler et. all, involvement of health care professionals is also preferred. It will help to strengthen health monitoring for those children who are in foster families. The researchers understand that children who are in foster care are usually the most vulnerable. That is why, considering the results of their research, Köhler and other researchers suggest that “safer systems to secure the well-being of these children need to be developed and implemented” (Köhler et. all). It is clear that if nothing is done in order to improve foster care, children will suffer from health risks.
Works cited
Köhler, M., Emmelin, M., Hjern, A., and Rosvall M. “Children in family foster care have greater health risks and less involvement in Child Health Services”. Acta Pædiatrica. 2015. Web. 12 Jun. 2016
