Problem: Asthma is the leading cause of hospitalizations and most chronic condition in childhood for ages 1-5 in California. The Latino child is at higher risk for asthma due to poverty, likeliness of being uninsured, and lack of preventative medicine, equipment, and health education. Latinos account for 25% of all the asthma related discharges from hospitals in Orange County, California.
Innovation: The Control de Asma, asthma self-management program is being developed by a health educator and public health nurse (PHN) within a community-based organization, Latino Health Access that provides preventative services for the under-served Latino population in Orange County, California. Spanish asthma educational modules developed by the PHN, will be taught to Latino parents of asthmatic children by community health workers who have a known track record of teaching Latino clients about chronic illness. Community presentations in the elementary schools are used to increase asthma awareness.This program will be replicated in Imperial County, California where the asthma hospitalization rates among Latinos are 2-3 times higher than the California average.
Implication: This program will link families to health care, provide asthma education, case-management, and home visitation services, to empower the Latino family to take control of asthma towards decreasing asthma morbidity and school absenteeism (Healthy People 2010 objectives).
Recommendations: The PHN/Health Educator and Community Health Worker program model can be used to decrease asthma morbidity and other health problems in a variety of Latino community settings. This model is applicable to other vulnerable populations within the U.S. and internationally.
Learning Objectives: N/A
Keywords: Asthma, Latinos
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Latino Health Access, community based organization in Orange County, California.
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.