Can the Care Need Index Identify Healthcare Centres With Higher Proportions of Children at Risk?

The Child Adjusted Care Need Index may be useful in identifying centres with higher proportions of children at risk for second-hand smoke exposure and failures in language screening. However, it appears less effective in identifying centres with higher proportions of children at risk for overweight, obesity or not being breastfed. This calls for further research on the Child Adjusted Care Need Index and other sociodemographic factors that affect children's health in order to improve resource allocation, guided by the principles of proportionate universalism.