Ethnic differences in health outcomes of Chinese children and adolescents: A comparative meta-analysis

AI Summary

Ethnic minority children had higher odds of anaemia, iron deficiency anaemia, stunting, underweight, self-harm, but lower obesity risk.
Regional differences modify ethnic disparities in health outcomes, indicating geographic context matters.
Disparities likely reflect structural inequalities rather than ethnicity alone; interventions should target social and environmental determinants of health.

AI Summary

Incongruent results have been reported regarding ethnic disparities in health-related outcomes amomg Chinese children and adolescents.

Compared to Han children and adolescents, ethnic minorities had increased risks of anemia (odds ratio [OR]: 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-1.73), iron deficiency anemia (OR: 3.49 [1.66-7.34]), stunting (OR: 1.78 [1.48-2.12]), underweight (OR: 1.54 [1.30-1.82]), self-harm (OR: 1.16 [1.06-1.27]), but decreased risk of obesity (OR: 0.81 [0.69-0.95]).

Despite substantial efforts, differences in health-related outcomes between ethnic minority and Han youths in China remain evident and likely reflect underlying structural inequalities rather than the independent effect of ethnicity.

Basic summary

iScience. 2026 Jun 25;29(7):116307. doi: 10.1016/j.isci.2026.116307. eCollection 2026 Jul 17.

ABSTRACT

Incongruent results have been reported regarding ethnic disparities in health-related outcomes amomg Chinese children and adolescents. We widely searched eight databases involving English- and Chinese-languages through Jun 4, 2023. A total of 152 observational studies were included in the meta-analysis. Compared to Han children and adolescents, ethnic minorities had increased risks of anemia (odds ratio [OR]: 1.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.15-1.73), iron deficiency anemia (OR: 3.49 [1.66-7.34]), stunting (OR: 1.78 [1.48-2.12]), underweight (OR: 1.54 [1.30-1.82]), self-harm (OR: 1.16 [1.06-1.27]), but decreased risk of obesity (OR: 0.81 [0.69-0.95]). Subgroup analyses showed effect modification by regions in ethnic differences of health. Despite substantial efforts, differences in health-related outcomes between ethnic minority and Han youths in China remain evident and likely reflect underlying structural inequalities rather than the independent effect of ethnicity. Addressing these disparities will require interventions targeting underlying social and environmental determinants of health.

PMID:42389583 | PMC:PMC13320462 | DOI:10.1016/j.isci.2026.116307

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