Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) are potentially traumatic experiences faced by children in the household, including abuse and neglect, divorce, substance abuse, domestic violence, and bullying. The experience of ACEs can have long-term negative impacts, including lower educational success; higher rates of physical and psychological illness and developmental problems; higher health care costs; higher rates of risk behaviors including depression, obesity and smoking; and more interactions with the criminal justice system. New Mexico children experience higher rates of ACEs than the general U.S. population. In New Mexico 21.1% of children ages 0 to 17 have experienced one ACE, and more than one-quarter (26.5%) have experienced two or more ACEs, compared to 17.4% of children, nationwide.
Aces Prevalency
Figure: NM to US Comparison, ACEs Prevalency
Data source: Child and Adolescent Health Measurement Initiative. 2018-2019 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) data query. Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health supported by Cooperative Agreement U59MC27866 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration’s Maternal and Child Health Bureau (HRSA MCHB). Retrieved 12/17/2020 from www.childhealthdata.org. CAHMI: www.cahmi.org.
The NSCH includes nine ACEs items: hard to cover basics on family’s income (ACE1); parent or guardian divorced or separated (ACE3); parent or guardian died (ACE4); parent or guardian served time in jail (ACE5); saw or heard parents or adults slap, hit, kick punch one another in the home (ACE6); was a victim of violence or witnessed violence in neighborhood (ACE7); lived with anyone who was mentally ill, suicidal, or severely depressed (ACE8); lived with anyone who had a problem with alcohol or drugs (ACE9); and treated or judged unfairly due to race/ethnicity (ACE 10). A response of ‘somewhat often’ or ‘very often’ to the question “Since this child was born, how often has it been very hard to cover the basics, like food or housing, on your family’s income?” (ACE1) was coded as an adverse childhood experience. The remaining survey items ACE3-ACE10 are dichotomous with ‘Yes/No’ response options.
How is New Mexico Doing?
New Mexico had a 19% decrease in children who experienced 1 or more adverse childhood experiences between 2019 and 2021 (26% v 21.1%). However, there was 18% increase in children who had 2 or more adverse childhood experiences in the same time period (21.7% v 26.5%).
How does New Mexico compare to the nation?
New Mexico has a higher prevalence of children who have experienced any adverse childhood experiences than the U.S. In 2021 the difference was primarily caused by the higher prevalence of children with 2 or more adverse childhood experiences in NM compared to the U.S. (26.5% v 17.4%).
What does this mean?
The decrease in children with 1 or more adverse childhood experiences between 2019 and 2021 was offset by the increase in children with 2 or more adverse childhood experiences in NM in the same time period. ACEs are linked to the development of chronic conditions in childhood and in adulthood, risky behaviors including substance use in adulthood, and education and employment attainment later in life. Higher numbers of ACEs increase the chance of negative impacts from ACEs.
ACES for Children with Special Health Care Needs
Figure: Percent of NM Children with adverse childhood experiences, by status of special healthcare needs, 2021.
How is New Mexico Doing?
New Mexico had a 19% decrease in children who experienced 1 or more adverse childhood experiences between 2019 and 2021 (26% v 21.1%). However, there was 18% increase in children who had 2 or more adverse childhood experiences in the same time period (21.7% v 26.5%).
How does New Mexico compare to the nation?
New Mexico has a higher prevalence of children who have experienced any adverse childhood experiences than the U.S. In 2021 the difference was primarily caused by the higher prevalence of children with 2 or more adverse childhood experiences in NM compared to the U.S. (26.5% v 17.4%).
What does this mean?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adverse childhood events (ACES) include experiencing violence, abuse, or neglect; witnessing violence in the community; having a family member die or commit suicide; growing up with family members experiencing substance abuse, mental health problems, or parental instability (e.g., parental separation, parent in prison). Adverse childhood events have been linked to chronic health problems, mental illness, and substance abuse either in childhood and/or adulthood. Further, ACES can aversely impact education, job opportunities, and earning potential. Moreover, in 2020, the Maternal and Child Health Journal reported that each additional ACE exposure can increase the likelihood of a children with special health care needs (CSHCN) status. And, CSHCN are reported to be at risk of unmet healthcare needs, material hardships according to a 2021 Academic Pediatrics’ article. This means that reducing ACES through public health measures could potentially reduce the number of children with special health care needs and could reduce the unmet healthcare needs of children with special health care needs.