Diaper Insecurity Insight Examines Ties to Other Social Drivers, Health Outcomes

A family’s inability to buy diapers is more than a material hardship – it is also associated with unmet social needs and health conditions such as urinary tract infections, diaper dermatitis and sleep disturbances. A study, “Implementation of Diaper Insecurity Screening” published in the October 2025 Pediatrics (published online Sept. 9) analyzed data from patients between June 2022 and July 2024 and demonstrated the feasibility of integrating pediatric diaper insecurity screening into health screenings. Of 16,677 pediatric patients at nine community health centers eligible for screening, 7,700 (46%) were screened for diaper insecurity. Among those, diaper insecurity prevalence was 41% (3,147), with the highest diaper insecurity prevalence reported by Black patients 45% (1,462) and Hispanic 39.9% (1,352) patients, as well as those preferring to communicate in languages other than English. Researchers found diaper insecurity co-occurs with other social drivers of health, with 78% diaper insecurity reported (951) when also reporting food insecurity; 65% (963) with transportation insecurity; 72% (97) when unhoused/homeless; 71% (484) with rent/mortgage payment insecurity; and 88% (445) with financial insecurity. Diaper insecurity was associated with maternal depression, low birth weight, fewer toilet training difficulties and increased emergency department visits.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 67,000 primary care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric surgical specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants, children, adolescents and young adults.