BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Parental incarceration (PI) is both an adverse childhood experience (ACE) and an influencer of pediatric health. Despite evidence that rural America sees the highest incarceration rates and substantial inequities in pediatric health care access and services, it is unclear how the prevalence of PI and associated sociodemographic factors vary across urban, suburban, and rural regions of the United States. METHODS This study used data from the National Survey of Children's Health (2016-2021; N = 145 281). Based on proximity and population, households were categorized as urban, suburban, or rural. Caregivers reported on household income, race/ethnicity, and living arrangements as well as children's exposure to ACEs, including PI. Chi-squared and t-tests compared the prevalence of PI across communities and assessed regional differences in ACEs and sociodemographic characteristics in the context of PI. RESULTS PI was most common in rural (12%) versus urban (8%) and suburban (6%) areas. ACEs were more prevalent among PI children compared with non-PI peers across regions, with slight differences between PI children across locales. Within all regions, PI was highest for Black, Latinx, Native, and multiracial children; those in poverty; and those in nonparent caregiver placements. However, these prevalences were consistently highest among rural children. CONCLUSIONS This study points to high rates of adversity and concern racial, economic, and residential disparities for PI children, particularly those in rural communities. Evidence from this study can be used as a foundation for future prevention and intervention pediatric health responses that address inequities and unmet needs for rural populations.

中文翻译：

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美国父母入狱情况：2016 年至 2021 年。

背景和目标 父母监禁 (PI) 既是一种不良的童年经历 (ACE)，也是儿科健康的影响因素。尽管有证据表明美国农村地区的监禁率最高，并且在儿科医疗保健获取和服务方面存在严重不平等，但目前尚不清楚美国城市、郊区和农村地区的 PI 患病率和相关社会人口因素有何不同。方法 本研究使用了全国儿童健康调查（2016-2021 年；N = 145 281）的数据。根据距离和人口，家庭被分为城市、郊区或农村。照顾者报告了家庭收入、种族/民族、生活安排以及儿童接触 ACE 的情况，包括 PI。卡方和 t 检验比较了各个社区的 PI 患病率，并评估了 PI 背景下 ACE 和社会人口特征的区域差异。结果 PI 在农村地区 (12%) 最常见，而在城市地区 (8%) 和郊区 (6%) 地区则最常见。与不同地区的非 PI 儿童相比，ACE 在 PI 儿童中更为普遍，不同地区的 PI 儿童之间略有差异。在所有地区中，黑人、拉丁裔、原住民和多种族儿童的 PI 最高；那些贫困的人；以及非父母看护者的安置。然而，这些患病率在农村儿童中始终最高。结论 本研究指出 PI 儿童，尤其是农村社区的儿童，逆境发生率很高，并关注种族、经济和居住方面的差异。这项研究的证据可作为未来预防和干预儿科健康应对措施的基础，以解决农村人口的不平等和未满足的需求。