Unequal access: Geographic and demographic inequities in pediatric general surgical care in the United States

Key Points

• Access to pediatric surgery varies widely based on geographic location, affecting many children's health outcomes.
• Key evidence shows that children in rural areas face 30% more barriers to necessary surgical care compared to urban counterparts.
• Analyzes demographic disparities through data from multiple health registries across the United States.
• Calls for policies to address inequities in pediatric surgery access to improve overall health outcomes.