• Shang Chee Chong, Ramkumar Aishworiya, Woon Li Seo, Yee Keow Chiong, KohGerald Choon-HuatGCSaw Swee Hock School of Public Health, National University of Singapore, Singapore.Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.Department of Medicine, National University Hospi, Jeremy Bingyuan Lin, Lynn Heng, Thahirah Habib Mohd, Young Ern Saw, Yiong Huak Chan, Jing Shi Chua, and Shefaly Shorey.
• Khoo Teck Puat-National University Children's Medical Institute, National University Health System, Singapore.
• Ann Acad Med Singap. 2024 Mar 27; 53 (3): 142151142-151.

IntroductionChildren from low-income (LI) families often suffer from poor health, with sub-optimal health practices. This cross-sectional study examined the differences in health habits and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of LI preschool children compared to non-low-income preschool peers (PPG).MethodUsing data from the social-health Circle of Care-Health Development Screening Programme (CoC-HDSP) in Singapore, 118 LI children and 304 PPG children aged 18 months to 6 years old and their families were recruited from 13 government-funded preschools. Health practices examined included screen time habits, sleep, nutrition, dental health and the children's HRQoL using PedsQL 4.0 Generic Core Scales.ResultsMajority of the children were aged 4-6 years in kindergarten 1 and 2. There were more Malay children in the LI than the PPG (61.9% versus [vs] 29.3%, P<0.001). Low-income children were more likely to have lower-educated parents (P<0.001). The completed vaccination rate in the LI group was lower than those in PPG (84.7% vs 98.0%, P<0.001). More in the LI group utilised emergency services for acute illnesses (P<0.05). Fewer LI children had ever visited a dentist (47.4% vs 75.4%, P<0.001), and more LI children consumed sweetened drinks daily (33.3% vs 8.6%, P<0.001). The LI group reported poorer-quality sleep (48.3% vs 27.2%, P<0.001), though both groups exceeded the daily recommended screen viewing duration. The LI group scored higher in the social (mean 92.4±12.2 vs 84.3±15.3, P<0.001) and emotional (mean 85.2±15.1 vs 76.6±17.3, P<0.001) domains of the PedsQL 4.0 when compared to PPG.ConclusionLow-income children have poorer health practices, receive less preventive paediatric care, and utilise more emergency services for acute illnesses. These findings are important for developing interventions that work towards improving the health of LI children.

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