Diapers at the Doctor

Diapers are essential care items, reducing the incidence of infection, rashes, and other poor health outcomes for babies. They are also required for access to many early educational programs. Despite this, diapers remain highly inaccesible: the poorest families spend 14% of their income on infant diapers and spend twice as much as those who can by diapers in bulk. Even then, diapers are not covered by programs such as SNAP (Supplemental Nutriton Assistance Program) or WIC (Women, INfants, and Children), creating alarming disparities in access.

Pediatricians can become trusted avenues of support for low-income children and families through sick and wellness visits. Pediatricians are therefore well positioned to address families’ economic strain through clinic-based interventions.

A diaper distribution program was piloted at Gardner-Packard Children’s Health Center (Gardner- Packard) from November 2016 to January 2017. Providers screened families with children 0-2 years old for diaper needs during appointments and provided those that screened positive a free 2-3 week supply of diapers. Participating families completed a short voluntary survey to determine participant characteristics, assess diaper needs and diaper purchasing behaviors.

• Program outputs: 20,000 diapers were distributed to 210 families with diaper needs.
• Diaper needs: 38% of participants reported insufficient diapers to change their child as frequently as needed. When in need of diapers but unable to afford more, 25% reported borrowing diapers or money from family or friends, and 13% changed diapers less frequently.
• Cost savings: The average savings per family for a 2-3 week diaper supply was $35. Annualized, this program would save families approximately $600 to $900 per year.
• Feasibility: Providers appreciated the ability to address families’ diaper needs, and they received overwhelmingly positive feedback from families about the clinic-based program.

We are currently working on expanding our diaper distribution capacity across all of our partner clinics throughout the Bay Area. Thank you to our genersous partners and donors for making this ongoing effort possible!

COVID-19 has been a distressing time for our community and the families we serve.

Thankfully, we have been able to support distribution of diapers among community partners to supplement any greater need. Through the contributions of Help-A-Mother-Out and the greater community, our totals have amounted to 40,000 diapers!