The hospital burden of intergenerational contact with the welfare system: A whole-of-population liked data study

BackgroundIntergenerational welfare contact (IWC) is a policy issue because of the personal and social costs of intergenerational disadvantage. We estimated the hospital burden of IWC for children aged 11-20 years.MethodsThis linked data study of children born in South Australia, 1991-1995 (n=94,358), and their parent/s (n=143,814) used de-identified data from the Better Evidence Better Outcomes Linked Data platform. Using Australian Government Centrelink data, welfare contact (WC) was defined as parent/s receiving a means-tested welfare payment (low-income, unemployment, disability or caring) when children were aged 11-15, or children receiving payment at ages 16-20. IWC was WC occurring in both parent and child generations. Children were classified as: No WC, parent only WC, child only WC, or IWC. Hospitalisation rates and cumulative incidence were estimated by age and WC group.FindingsIWC affected 34.9% of children, who had the highest hospitalisation rate (133.5 per 1,000 person-years) compared to no WC (46.1 per 1,000 person-years), parent only WC (75.0 per 1,000 person-years), and child only WC (87.6 per 1,000 person-years). Of all IWC children, 43.0% experienced at least one hospitalisation between 11-20, frequently related to injury, mental health, and pregnancy.InterpretationChildren experiencing IWC represent a third of the population aged 11-20. Compared to children with parent-only WC, IWC children had 78% higher hospitalisation rates from age 11 to 20, accounting for over half of all hospitalisations in this age group. Frequent IWC hospitalisation causes were injuries, mental health, and pregnancy.FundingMedical Research Future Fund, National Health and Medical Research Council, Westpac Scholars Trust.