Table 4. Associations between special health care needs and days absent from school due to illness during first grade (n = 1,921)*.
| Rate Ratio, adjusted† | [95% CI] | SMD | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall SHCN | ||||
| No SHCN | (ref) | |||
| SHCN | 1.37 | [1.16; 1.62] | 0.40 | |
| Individual SHCN consequences | ||||
| Use or need of prescription medication | No | (ref) | ||
| Yes | 1.13 | [0.89; 1.45] | 0.15 | |
| Above average use or need of medical, mental health, or educational services | No | (ref) | ||
| Yes | 1.13 | [0.88; 1.46] | 0.14 | |
| Functional limitations compared with others of the same age | No | (ref) | ||
| Yes | 1.58 | [1.15; 2.17] | 0.64 | |
| Use or need of specialized therapies | No | (ref) | ||
| Yes | 1.17 | [0.88; 1.55] | 0.19 | |
| Treatment or counseling for emotional, behavioral, or developmental problems | No | (ref) | ||
| Yes | 1.38 | [1.14; 1.68] | 0.41 | |
| Number of SHCN consequences experienced | ||||
| 0 consequences | (ref) | |||
| 1 SHCN consequence | 1.29 | [1.08; 1.54] | 0.32 | |
| >1 SHCN consequences | 1.48 | [1.23; 1.77] | 0.52 | |
* Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; SHCN, special health care needs; SMD, standardized mean difference.
† Adjusted for gender, immigration status, socio-economic status, multiple at birth, breastfeeding, chronic health condition in the family, health care utilization, and school location.