Objective: The purpose of the study was to evaluate asthma prevalence among children in public elementary schools in Norfolk, and the impact of disease on school outcomes. Methods: During the 1997-98 school year, school health questionnaires were mailed out twice to parents, and delivered once to the classroom in 3 elementary schools in Norfolk. The survey included demographics, questions on asthma, school health needs and performance. Results: The overall parental survey response rate was 1,031 (63%). Study population included 478 (46%) males and 553 (54%) females; 506 (49%) were African American and 389 (38%) were Caucasian children. Survey results showed that 16% of the children had ever asthma in their life and 11% had asthma in the previous year. Fifty-nine percent of asthmatic children were males and 54% were African American children. Asthmatic children were significantly more likely to have health insurance (OR=1.91; 95%CI: 0.96, 3.86; p<0.05) than non-asthmatic children, and were more likely to repeat a grade in elementary school (OR=1.51; 95%CI: 0.99, 2.32; p<0.05) than non-asthmatic children in our population. Conclusions: Based on this survey, asthma prevalence in Norfolk public elementary school children is 1.5 times higher than the national estimate, and elementary school children with asthma are more likely to repeat a grade than non-asthmatic children. The impact of asthma on school performance of elementary school children needs further study. Families and school systems should collaborate to improve care for asthmatic school aged children.
Learning Objectives: 1. Understand communication between health care delivery and school health system to improve asthma awareness, prevention and treatment strategies in Southeastern Virginia inner-city public schools. 2. Describe asthma prevalence, asthma impact on school performance, quality of life of asthmatic children and their families, and health insurance coverage for these children. 3. Describe school absences secondary to asthma, needs for improvement of school health system and communication with health care providers
Keywords: Asthma, Child Health
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.