Parental socioeconomic status and other sociodemographic determinants of health disparities among children and adolescents in Austria

Objectives: Poor childhood health is a key predictor of adverse health and socioeconomic outcomes, emphasizing the need to address early-life disparities. This study aims to examine parental socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors associated with child and adolescent health in Austria, addressing the gap in European research on this topic. Study design: This a retrospective analysis based on representative data from the 2019 Austrian Health Interview Survey including 5605 participants under the age of 18. Methods: Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine parent-reported health status (PRHS) and the presence of chronic conditions, assessed with the Children with Special Healthcare Needs Screener. Explanatory variables included parental education, income, employment status, migration background, and family structure, controlling for age, gender, and siblings. Results: PRHS was rated as excellent in 80.92 % of cases, while 19.08 % reported fair to very poor health. Special healthcare needs were present in 8.35 %. Higher income (OR: 1.39, 95 % CI 1.14-1.69), marital partnership (OR: 1.43, 95 % CI 1.09-1.89), and the absence of a migration background (OR: 1.22, 95 % CI 1.02-1.46) were positively associated with PRHS. For special healthcare needs, only migration background showed a significant association, with the absence of a migration background being linked to a higher chronic disease risk (OR: 1.32, 95 % CI 1.01-1.73). Conclusions: PRHS in Austria is shaped by socioeconomic and sociodemographic factors, while special healthcare needs are primarily linked to parental migration background, possibly reflecting underdiagnosis due to access barriers. Our findings suggest that policy measures should address income inequalities and enhance culturally sensitive healthcare access.