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Reported asthma among Puerto Rican, Mexican-American, and Cuban children, 1982 through 1984
O D Carter-Pokras1, P J Gergen
1National Center for Health Statistics, Hyattsville, Md.
Insights
Puerto Rican children have the highest prevalence of asthma. Further research and targeted educational programs are recommended for this population to address disparities in childhood asthma.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Asthma prevalence varies significantly across different ethnic and racial groups.
- Understanding these disparities is crucial for developing targeted public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To examine physician-diagnosed asthma prevalence in children aged 6 months to 11 years across various Hispanic subgroups and non-Hispanic Whites.
- To identify ethnic and racial differences in asthma prevalence.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) II.
- Analyzed reported physician-diagnosed asthma in children aged 6 months to 11 years.
Main Results:
- Puerto Rican children exhibited the highest active asthma prevalence (11.2%).
- Prevalence rates were lower for non-Hispanic Whites (3.3%), Mexican Americans (2.7%), non-Hispanic Blacks (5.9%), and Cubans (5.2%).
- Differences in health service utilization and asthma severity did not explain the disparity between Puerto Ricans and Mexican Americans.
Conclusions:
- Puerto Ricans show a disproportionately high prevalence of childhood asthma.
- Asthma educational programs should prioritize outreach to the Puerto Rican community.
- Further investigation into the underlying causes of this disparity is warranted.
Abstract:
Data from the Hispanic Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (HHANES) (1982 through 1984) and the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) II (1976 through 1980) were used to examine reported physician-diagnosed asthma among 6-month-old through 11-year-old children. The highest prevalence of active asthma was reported for Puerto Ricans: 11.2% compared with 3.3% for non-Hispanic Whites, 5.9% for non-Hispanic Blacks, 2.7% for Mexican Americans, and 5.2% for Cubans. Health services utilization and severity do not appear to explain the differences between Puerto Ricans and Mexican Americans. Educational programs on asthma should consider focusing on Puerto Ricans.