Measuring Childhood Disability Using the National Health Interview Survey

A first-of-its-kind study published in JAMA Pediatrics provides prevalence data for 4 strategies to identify children with disabilities, using questions from the 2019-2022 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) for children aged 5-17 years. Through statistical analyses of data from the NHIS, the research team determined that prevalence estimates varied between 11% and 23%, depending on which disability identification strategy was used. Results also revealed differences in prevalence of disability based on gender, race and ethnicity, and poverty level. The authors conclude that since there is limited overlap in prevalence estimates across strategies, caution is recommended when interpreting results based on a single identification strategy. An in-depth evaluation of the disability identification method is justified, especially when aiming to identify disability among marginalized groups for whom focused interventions may be needed.