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Published on: August 7, 2017

Exploring modifiable risk factors for wheezing in African American premature infants

Jada L Brooks1, Diane Holditch-Davis, Lawrence R Landerman

  • 1School of Nursing, Duke University, Durham, NC 27710, USA.

Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing : JOGNN
|April 12, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Positive maternal attention and public assistance were linked to increased wheezing risk in premature African American infants. Other factors like obesity and secondhand smoke showed no significant association with early wheezing development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Neonatal Care
  • Respiratory Health

Background:

  • Wheezing is a common respiratory symptom in infants, particularly premature infants.
  • Understanding risk factors for early wheezing is crucial for timely intervention.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between infant obesity, secondhand smoke exposure, parenting styles, and the early development of wheezing in African American premature infants.
  • To identify key predictors of wheezing in this vulnerable population.

Main Methods:

  • Secondary analysis of data from a larger nursing support intervention study.
  • Involved 168 African American premature infants and their mothers from two regional perinatal centers.
  • Wheezing data collected via maternal report at 2, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months corrected age.

Main Results:

  • Medically significant wheezing increased from 12% at 2 months to 24% at 24 months corrected age.
  • Infants receiving more positive maternal attention showed a slightly higher probability of developing wheezing.
  • Infants of mothers receiving public assistance had an increased probability of wheezing.

Conclusions:

  • Positive maternal attention and maternal public assistance are associated with an increased likelihood of wheezing in African American premature infants.
  • Modifiable risk factors like obesity and secondhand smoke were not strongly related to wheezing development.
  • Intervention should focus on early identification and treatment of wheezing and asthma-related symptoms.
Abstract

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