Exploring the health care utilization of children and youth in the care of child welfare: a retrospective matched cohort study

Children and youth in child welfare care have higher rates of chronic conditions but often have unmet health care needs. Comparing children in care who visited a paediatric hospital with matched peers, this study found similar rates of primary care visits, well-baby checks, hospital admissions, outpatient mental health visits and immunizations. Children in care differed from their peers in emergency department visits, oral health visits and visits related to physiological development. The authors call for better practice, policy and research, including a shared data system to track the health care of this vulnerable group.