Well-child Visit Disruptions

Well-child Visit Disruptions in United States

United States

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all infants, toddlers and children receive routine preventive visits throughout their life, known as well-child visits. The benefits of well-child visits include:

• Preventing illness through routine immunizations. 
• Tracking growth and development. 
• Having opportunities to discuss parental concerns about child development, behavior, sleep and eating.
• Developing a strong patient-provider relationship.
• ADHD testing and identification.
• Lower use of emergency care services.

As individuals enter adolescence, they experience a number of transitions that may require unique health care solutions and conversations. During this stage, adolescents experience rapid physical growth, changing hormones and sexual maturity. Social factors and behaviors that lead to morbidity and mortality are often initiated in adolescence, which makes it a critical time for education, prevention and early intervention.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused disruptions in preventive health services and access issues for many children. Job losses among parents have led to disruptions in insurance coverage. Concerns about contracting COVID-19 at in-person visits may have also caused delays in care; many providers have needed to adjust how they provide in-person services. Furthermore, school closings and moves to remote education have affected the ability of schools to provide usual screenings, counseling and other health services to students.

The scope of the consequences of well-child visit disruption during the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet known. The American Academy of Pediatrics and others are concerned that delays in routine vaccinations during the pandemic could result in additional outbreaks of vaccine-preventable illnesses. Delays in screenings, referrals and guidance may also have consequences.

Updated 9/16/22

Enlow, Elizabeth, Molly Passarella, and Scott A. Lorch. “Continuity of Care in Infancy and Early Childhood Health Outcomes.” Pediatrics 140, no. 1 (July 2017): e20170339. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-0339.

Kipping, R.R., R.M. Campbell, G.J. MacArthur, D.J. Gunnell, and M. Hickman. “Multiple Risk Behaviour in Adolescence.” Journal of Public Health 34, no. suppl_1 (March 1, 2012): i1–2. https://doi.org/10.1093/pubmed/fdr122.