NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 246 ■ May 2016

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

National Center for Health Statistics

Access and Utilization of Selected Preventive Health Services 

Among Adolescents Aged 10–17

Lindsey I. Black, M.P.H.; Colleen N. Nugent, Ph.D.; and Anjel Vahratian, Ph.D.

Key findings 

Data from the National 

Health Interview Survey

● The percentages of 

adolescents aged 10–17 who 

did not have a usual place for 

preventive care, did not receive 

a well-child checkup in the 

past 12 months, or did not have 

a dental visit in the past 12 

months decreased from 2008 to 

2014.

● In 2014, 2% of adolescents 

aged 10–17 did not have a 

usual place for preventive care, 

21% did not receive a wellchild checkup, and 12% did not 

have a dental visit in the past 

12 months.

● In 2014, the percentages of 

adolescents not having a usual 

place for preventive care, not 

receiving a well-child checkup, 

and not having a dental visit 

were higher for those aged 

16–17 compared with those 

in younger age groups. These 

percentages also varied by race 

and ethnicity, poverty status, 

and insurance status.

Adolescence is a critical period for health promotion, disease prevention, and 

the development of healthy habits (1). Regular preventive health care visits 

during this period are recommended to promote health and quality of life 

(2). This report examines recent trends and demographic differences in the 

percentages of adolescents with a usual place for preventive care; those who 

had a well-child checkup in the past 12 months; and those who had a dental 

visit in the past 12 months. 

Keywords: teens • wellness • medical care • National Health Interview Survey

How has adolescents’ preventive health care service 

utilization changed over time in the United States?

From 2008 to 2014, the percentages of adolescents aged 10–17 who did not 

have a usual place for preventive care, did not receive a well-child checkup in 

the past 12 months, or did not visit the dentist in the past 12 months decreased 

(Figure 1). For all years, the percentage with no well-child checkup was higher 

Figure 1. Percentage of adolescents aged 10–17 who did not have a usual place for preventive 

care, did not receive a well-child checkup, or did not have a dental visit, by year: United States, 

2008–2014

 

NOTES: Linear decrease from 2008 to 2014 is statistically significant at p < 0.05 level for all measures shown. All percentage 

differences by year and measure are statistically significant (p < 0.05). Access data table for Figure 1 at: 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db246_table.pdf#1.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2008–2014.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 246 ■ May 2016

■  2  ■

than the percentage with no dental visits. Additionally, the percentage with no dental visits was 

higher than the percentage with no usual place for preventive care. The percentage of adolescents 

without a usual place for preventive care decreased from 4.5% in 2008 to 2.3% in 2014. A 

decrease was also observed in the percentage of adolescents who did not have a dental visit in the 

past 12 months, from 15.6% in 2008 to 12.1% in 2014. The highest percentage point difference 

was observed in the percentage of adolescents who did not receive a well-child checkup in the 

past 12 months, from 31.3% to 21.2% during the same time period. 

Does the utilization of preventive care services change over the course of 

adolescence?

The percentage of adolescents who did not have a usual place for preventive care increased as age 

increased. About 1.4% of those aged 10–11, 1.7% of those 12–13, 2.7% of those 14–15, and 3.5% 

of those 16–17 did not have a usual place for preventive care in 2014 (Figure 2). The percentage 

of adolescents without a dental visit in the past 12 months also increased with advancing age, 

with 9.2% of those aged 10–11, 11.3% of those 12–13, 12.7% of those 14–15, and 15.3% of 

those 16–17 not having a dental visit in the past 12 months. The percentage of adolescents with 

no well-child checkup in the past 12 months was approximately the same for those aged 10–11 

(20.3%) through 14–15 (19.2%), but was higher for adolescents aged 16–17 (27.1%). 

Figure 2. Percentage of adolescents aged 10–17 who did not have a usual place for preventive care, did not receive a 

well-child checkup, or did not have a dental visit, by age group: United States, 2014

 

NOTES: Linear increase across age is statistically significant at p < 0.05 level for no usual place for preventive care and no dental visit, past 12 months. Quadratic 

trend is significant at p < 0.05 for no well-child checkup, past 12 months. Access data table for Figure 2 at: 

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db246_table.pdf#2.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2014.
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Are race and ethnicity, poverty status, and insurance coverage status 

related to having a usual place for preventive care for adolescents? 

Of the three race and ethnicity groups, Hispanic adolescents (4.2%) were more likely than both 

non-Hispanic white (1.5%) and non-Hispanic black (2.0%) adolescents to not have a usual place 

for preventive care (Figure 3). Adolescents with family income less than or equal to 138% of the 

federal poverty level (FPL) were more likely than those with income greater than 138% FPL to 

not have a usual place for preventive care. Uninsured adolescents (18.4%) were more likely to 

not have a usual place for preventive care compared with those having private (1.1%) or public 

(1.6%) health coverage.

Figure 3. Percentage of adolescents aged 10–17 who did not have a usual place for preventive care, by race and 

Hispanic origin, poverty status, and health insurance coverage: United States, 2014

 

1

Significantly different from Hispanic adolescents.

2

Significantly different from those with income greater than 138% FPL.

3

Significantly different from uninsured adolescents.

NOTES: FPL is federal poverty level. Access data table for Figure 3 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db246_table.pdf#3. 

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2014.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 246 ■ May 2016

■  4  ■

Are race and ethnicity, poverty status, and insurance coverage status 

related to having a well-child checkup in the past 12 months for 

adolescents? 

Of the three race and ethnicity groups, Hispanic adolescents (27.8%) were more likely than nonHispanic white (19.7%) and non-Hispanic black (18.0%) adolescents to not receive a well-child 

checkup in the past 12 months (Figure 4). Adolescents with family income of 138% FPL or less 

(24.4%) were more likely to not receive a well-child checkup compared with those having family 

income greater than 138% FPL (19.8%). Adolescents who were uninsured were more likely to 

have not received a well-child checkup (54.2%), compared with those having private (18.8%) or 

public (19.4%) health coverage.

Figure 4. Percentage of adolescents aged 10–17 who did not receive a well-child checkup in the past 12 months, by race 

and Hispanic origin, poverty status, and health insurance coverage: United States, 2014

 

1

Significantly different from Hispanic adolescents.

2

Significantly different from those with income greater than 138% FPL.

3

Significantly different from uninsured adolescents.

NOTES: FPL is federal poverty level. Access data table for Figure 4 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db246_table.pdf#4. 

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2014.
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Are race and ethnicity, poverty status, and insurance coverage status 

related to having a dental visit in the past 12 months for adolescents? 

Of the three race and ethnicity groups, a lower percentage of non-Hispanic white adolescents 

(9.5%) did not have a dental visit in the past 12 months, compared with non-Hispanic black 

(14.1%) and Hispanic (16.9%) adolescents (Figure 5). Those with family income of 138% FPL 

or less (19.1%) were more likely than those with family income greater than 138% FPL (9.1%) to 

have not visited the dentist in the past 12 months. Adolescents who were uninsured (41.7%) were 

the most likely to have not visited the dentist in the past 12 months, followed by those with public 

(15.6%) and private (7.3%) health coverage. 

Figure 5. Percentage of adolescents aged 10–17 without a dental visit in the past 12 months, by race and Hispanic origin, 

poverty status, and health insurance coverage: United States, 2014

 

1

Significantly different from non-Hispanic black adolescents.

2

Significantly different from Hispanic adolescents.

3

Significantly different from those with income greater than 138% FPL.

4

Significantly different from those with public coverage.

5

Significantly different from uninsured adolescents.

NOTES: FPL is federal poverty level. Access data table for Figure 5 at: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db246_table.pdf#5.

SOURCE: NCHS, National Health Interview Survey, 2014.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 246 ■ May 2016

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Summary

Overall, the percentages of adolescents aged 10–17 without a usual place for preventive care 

or who did not receive a well-child checkup or visit the dentist in the past 12 months have 

decreased since 2008. Access and utilization of these selected preventive care services declined 

with increasing age. Further, racial and socioeconomic disparities were seen in the populations 

that did not use these selected preventive care services. Adolescents who were Hispanic, poor, 

or uninsured consistently had higher rates of nonreceipt of preventive health care compared with 

those who were non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic black, not poor, or with health care coverage. 

Because adolescence is a dynamic stage of human development, access to and utilization of 

preventive care is an important step in preparing adolescents for lifelong health and wellness as 

they transition from childhood to adulthood.

Definitions

Usual place for preventive care: Based on a series of survey questions that determine if there is a 

usual place of sick and preventive care and the type of places that are visited. Estimates presented 

are strictly based on responses to questions about the place the child usually goes to when he 

or she needs routine or preventive care, such as a physical examination or well-child checkup. 

Children whose usual place for preventive care was an emergency room were considered not to 

have a usual place for preventive care.

Well-child checkup: Based on the response to the survey question, “During the past 12 months 

did [sample child name] receive a well-child checkup—that is, a general checkup when [he/she] 

was not sick or injured?”

Dental visit: Based on the response to the survey question, “About how long has it been since 

[sample child name] last saw a dentist? Include all types of dentists, such as orthodontists, oral 

surgeons, and all other dental specialists, as well as dental hygienists.”

Health insurance coverage type: Based on the status of health insurance coverage at the time of 

interview. Private health insurance includes children with comprehensive private insurance plans 

obtained through a parent’s or caregiver’s employer, purchased directly, purchased through local 

or community programs, or purchased through the Health Insurance Marketplace or a state-based 

exchange. Public health insurance includes children with Medicaid, Children’s Health Insurance 

Program, or other state-sponsored health plan. Uninsured children includes those who were not 

reported to have been covered at the time of interview or those who were covered only by Indian 

Health Service or had only a single service plan (e.g., dental care only). Children with more 

than one type of health insurance were assigned to the first appropriate category in the following 

mutually exclusive hierarchy: private coverage, public coverage, other coverage (data not shown), 

or uninsured.

Data source and methods

Data from the 2008–2014 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) were used for this analysis. 

NHIS is a nationally representative survey of the civilian noninstitutionalized U.S. population. 

It is conducted continuously throughout the year by the National Center for Health Statistics 

(NCHS). NHIS is an in-person interview conducted in the respondent’s home. In some instances, 
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 246 ■ May 2016

■  7  ■

follow-up to complete the interview is via telephone. The survey consists of (a) a Family 

Core component, with questions asked about all members of the family; (b) a Sample Adult 

component, which collects additional information from one randomly selected adult per family; 

and (c) a Sample Child component, which collects additional information about one randomly 

selected child per family. Data for this analysis come from the Sample Child and Family Core 

components of NHIS. For more information about NHIS, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nhis.htm.

NHIS is designed to yield a nationally representative sample, and these analyses used weights to 

produce national estimates. The sample design is described in more detail elsewhere (3). Point 

estimates and the corresponding variances for this analysis were calculated using SUDAAN 

software (4) to account for the complex sample design of NHIS. The Taylor series linearization 

method was used for variance estimation. All estimates shown meet the NCHS standard for 

reliability (having a relative standard error less than or equal to 30%). Linear and quadratic 

trends were tested in SUDAAN PROC DESCRIPT using the POLY option. Differences between 

percentages were evaluated using two-sided significance tests at the 0.05 level. All differences 

reported are significant unless stated otherwise.

For 2014, approximately 20% of NHIS respondents were missing data on family income and 

personal earnings. To analyze associations with poverty status, NHIS’ imputed personal earning 

and income files were used (5).

About the authors

Lindsey I. Black, Colleen N. Nugent, and Anjel Vahratian are with the National Center for Health 

Statistics, Division of Health Interview Statistics.

References

1. National Research Council and Institute of Medicine: Committee on Adolescent Health Care 

Services and Models of Care for Treatment, Prevention, and Healthy Development. Adolescent 

health services: Missing opportunities. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. 2009. 

Available from: http://www.nap.edu/read/12063/chapter/1.

2. American Academy of Pediatrics. Recommendations for preventive pediatric health care. 

2016. Available from: https://www.aap.org/en-us/Documents/periodicity_schedule.pdf.

3. Parsons VL, Moriarity C, Jonas K, et al. Design and estimation for the National Health 

Interview Survey, 2006–2015. National Center for Health Statistics. Vital Health Stat 2(165). 

2014.

4. RTI International. SUDAAN (Release 11.0.0) [computer software]. 2012.

5. Schenker N, Raghunathan TE, Chiu PL, et al. Multiple imputation of family income and 

personal earnings in the National Health Interview Survey: Methods and examples. National 

Center for Health Statistics. 2010.
NCHS Data Brief ■ No. 246 ■ May 2016

Suggested citation 

Black LI, Nugent CN, Vahratian A. Access 

and utilization of selected preventive health 

services among adolescents aged 10–17. 

NCHS data brief, no 246. Hyattsville, MD: 

National Center for Health Statistics. 2016.

Copyright information 

All material appearing in this report is in 

the public domain and may be reproduced 

or copied without permission; citation as to 

source, however, is appreciated.

National Center for Health 

Statistics 

Charles J. Rothwell, M.S., M.B.A., Director

Nathaniel Schenker, Ph.D., Deputy Director

Jennifer H. Madans, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

Division of Health Interview Statistics

Marcie L. Cynamon, Director

Stephen J. Blumberg, Ph.D., Associate 

Director for Science

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