Demographic characteristics and needs of families at an urban, low-income, multicultural paediatric clinic.

OBJECTIVES To describe the demographic characteristics and identify the needs of a population attending an urban, low-income area, multicultural paediatric clinic. METHODS Surveys were distributed to caregivers of children zero to 16 years of age (n=299). RESULTS Of the children attending appointments, 55% were female and 51% were five years of age or younger. Of the caregivers, 29.5% were born outside of Canada and 25% reported that their primary spoken language was not English. Sixty-six per cent of families had been living in Edmonton for more than three years, with two-thirds of respondents living in Edmonton's second-lowest average household income region. Seventy-six per cent of respondents lived in households with four or more persons. CONCLUSIONS Challenges facing individuals attending an urban, low-income area, paediatric clinic include language barriers, lower household income and larger family size. Immigrants living outside of major Canadian cities are under-represented and may have different needs compared with their counterparts in 'gateway' cities. More studies are needed to determine their needs, and will ultimately lead to the provision of culturally competent care.