The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #44712

Jane E. Pray, RN, MSN, La Salle Neighborhood Nursing Center, La Salle University, Box 808, 1900 West Olney Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19141, 215-951-5035, pray@lasalle.edu

Infant mortality and asthma are major public health problems, especially for children born into poverty and for African Americans. In the Logan neighborhood of Philadelphia, the target population for the Community Coalition for Minority Children’s Health (CCMCH), 80% of the residents are African American and 21% live below the poverty level. The 1995 infant mortality rate (IMR) for African Americans residing in the health district that includes Logan was 20.1, which was higher than Philadelphia’s overall IMR of 17.1 for African Americans. At the major medical center in Logan from 1996-1997, 92% of patients received emergency care for asthma and 91% of patients hospitalized for asthma were African Americans. CCMCH responded to these concerns by implementing prenatal/parenting and pediatric asthma management programs from 1998-2001. These community-based programs used a public health and education model that integrated health and environmental assessment, education, and outreach services. A public health nurse, health educator and Americorps members provided multi-level services including: in-home environmental assessment, education and support for families; school based asthma education; and educational workshops for the public, daycare providers, school teachers, principals, nurses, and local primary care providers. Creating a baby healthy and/or trigger free environment was stressed and clients were supported in implementing efforts to reduce or eliminate identified hazards/triggers. Outcomes relating to prenatal care attendance, prenatal weight gain, birth weight, immunization status, asthma ER visits, asthma hospitalizations, school attendance, asthma medication use, education pre-test/post-test results, environmental findings and behavioral changes will be discussed.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, participants will be able to

• Identify the most common environmental hazards/triggers found in the homes of young, urban-dwelling, families.
• Describe the intervention strategies and outcomes of home based case management programs for prenatal/parenting women and families with children with asthma.
• Discuss the impact of multi-level program intervention within an urban neighborhood.

Keywords: Public Health Nursing, Indoor Environment

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
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.