Asthma in Head Start children: prevalence, risk factors, and health care utilization.
OBJECTIVE
1. To identify the prevalence and severity of asthma in a Massachusetts Head Start program; 2. To identify associated risk factors for children with asthma; 3. To assess factors associated with health care utilization for asthma management.


METHODS
Parents of 316 Head Start children were interviewed using a close-ended survey questionnaire. Survey A was used for demographics and general health screening. Survey B documented more specific asthma information.


RESULTS
There was a 35% prevalence rate of asthma in this preschool Head Start population. Most children had mild to moderate degrees of severity. Atopy, environmental triggers, and tobacco smoke exposure were common risk factors. Seventy-four percent of these children with asthma had used the emergency department at least once in their lifetime for asthma management. Forty-one percent had been hospitalized at least one time for asthma.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings are consistent with previous studies that support the need for asthma outreach and interventions in at-risk Head Start preschool populations.
Ladebauche
P
P
Nursing Laboratories, University of Massachusetts, Lowell, MA, USA.
Nicolosi
R
R
Reece
S
S
Saucedo
K
K
Volicer
B
B
Richards
T
T
D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D018479:Early Intervention, Educational; D005260:Female; D006296:Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors