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Asthma in Head Start children: prevalence, risk factors, and health care utilization
P Ladebauche1, R Nicolosi, S Reece
1Nursing Laboratories, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA.
Insights
Asthma affects 35% of preschoolers in a Massachusetts Head Start program. Key risk factors include allergies, environmental triggers, and smoke exposure, highlighting the need for targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
- Public Health
- Early Childhood Education
Background:
- Asthma is a significant chronic respiratory disease in children.
- Head Start programs serve a vulnerable preschool population, often with limited healthcare access.
- Understanding asthma prevalence and risk factors in this setting is crucial for effective public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence and severity of asthma among children in a Massachusetts Head Start program.
- To identify risk factors associated with childhood asthma.
- To evaluate healthcare utilization patterns for asthma management in this population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional survey was administered to parents of 316 children enrolled in a Head Start program.
- Two survey instruments were used: Survey A for demographics and general health, and Survey B for specific asthma-related information.
- Data analysis focused on prevalence rates, risk factor identification, and healthcare utilization metrics.
Main Results:
- A high asthma prevalence of 35% was observed in the Head Start preschool population.
- Common risk factors identified included atopy, exposure to environmental triggers, and secondhand tobacco smoke.
- Significant healthcare utilization was noted, with 74% of children with asthma using the emergency department and 41% experiencing hospitalization for asthma management.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms a substantial burden of asthma in Head Start preschoolers, consistent with prior research.
- Findings underscore the urgent need for targeted asthma outreach and intervention programs within at-risk Head Start populations.
- Addressing environmental triggers and improving access to consistent asthma care are critical for this demographic.
Purposes:
1. To identify the prevalence and severity of asthma in a Massachusetts Head Start program; 2. To identify associated risk factors for children with asthma; 3. To assess factors associated with health care utilization for asthma management.
Method:
Parents of 316 Head Start children were interviewed using a close-ended survey questionnaire. Survey A was used for demographics and general health screening. Survey B documented more specific asthma information.
Findings:
There was a 35% prevalence rate of asthma in this preschool Head Start population. Most children had mild to moderate degrees of severity. Atopy, environmental triggers, and tobacco smoke exposure were common risk factors. Seventy-four percent of these children with asthma had used the emergency department at least once in their lifetime for asthma management. Forty-one percent had been hospitalized at least one time for asthma.
Conclusions:
These findings are consistent with previous studies that support the need for asthma outreach and interventions in at-risk Head Start preschool populations.