New morbidity: Implications for prevention of children's disabilities

Abstract
Although great advances have been made over the past several decades in improving the overall health and well‐being of Americans, reversals are apparent in various health indicators that reflect the well‐being of children. Within our broad theoretical framework of the “new morbidity,” we identify and analyze specific environmental, psychosocial, and economic factors that adversely affect children's well‐being. We consider contemporary new morbidity‐related outcomes, including adolescent homicide and suicide, substance abuse, sexually transmitted diseases and AIDS, and developmental exceptionalities, among other threats to Health. We then discuss adolescent pregnancy, prenatal care; and low birthweight as crucial considerations that must underlie new morbidity‐related preventive intervention planning and policy‐making efforts.