This Article  • Full text  • PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Citing articles on ISI (4)  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in this journal  Topic Collections  • Otolaryngology/ Head & Neck Surgery  • Alert me on articles by topic

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) Early Child Care Research Network

Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2003;157:196-200.

Objective  To examine the relationship between experience in child care and communicable illnesses (gastrointestinal tract infection, upper respiratory tract infection, and otitis media) in children aged 37 months to 54 months with particular focus on the effect of entry into child care after age 3 years.

Design  Health, child care, and family data were obtained from more than 1100 participants in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Study of Early Child Care, a 10-site prospective study that began at birth. Longitudinal logistic regression analyses were performed using each type of communicable illness as the outcome variable, with family, child, and child care variables as predictors in the model.

Results  For children aged 37 to 54 months, rates of upper respiratory tract illness, gastrointestinal tract illness, and ear infections were higher in those enrolled in child care arrangements with more than 6 children. During this period, children with experience in large-group care prior to age 3 years were less likely to be ill than children who entered child care for the first time after age 3 years. Even so, their rates were still higher than for those in small-group care or who were cared for at home between the ages of 37 and 54 months. Reported rates of respiratory tract and gastrointestinal tract illnesses were higher for European American than African American children. Number of hours per week in child care was not a factor.

Conclusion  Children in child care arrangements with more than 6 other children experience more bouts of upper respiratory tract illness between the ages of 37 and 54 months.

This study was directed by a steering committee and NICHD, Rockville, Md, through a cooperative agreement, which called for a scientific collaboration between the grantees and the NICHD staff.

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Association of Infant Child Care With Infant Feeding Practices and Weight Gain Among US Infants
Kim and Peterson
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2008;162:627-633.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Child Care and the Well-being of Children
Bradley and Vandell
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med 2007;161:669-676.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

Compliance With American Academy of Pediatrics and American Public Health Association Illness Exclusion Guidelines for Child Care Centers in Maryland: Who Follows Them and When?
Copeland et al.
Pediatrics 2006;118:e1369-e1380.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT