Mental, emotional, and social problems among school children with asthma.
OBJECTIVE
To use representative population chronic disease and risk factor data to investigate the relationship between asthma and social factors in school-age children.


METHODS
Representative cross-sectional data for children 5 to 15 years of age were collected from 2002 to June 2007 (n = 4,611) in the South Australian Monitoring and Surveillance System (SAMSS) using Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviews (CATI). Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to investigate the variables that were associated with asthma among children.


RESULTS
The overall prevalence of self-reported asthma among children 5 to 15 years of age was 18.6% (95% CI = 17.5-19.8). Children with asthma were more likely to have been treated for a mental health problem, have been unhappy at school, have been absent from school in the last month, have fair or poor overall health and well-being, have ongoing pain or chronic illness, and less likely to have a group of friends to play with. Asthma was also more prevalent among males and less likely to occur in children from households where the gross annual income was greater than $AU80,000.


CONCLUSIONS
Children with asthma were more likely to be treated for a mental health problem and demonstrate more negative social outcomes as well as poorer overall health and well-being. Asthma management plans need to be sensitive to these psychosocial factors for adequate care of these vulnerable young patients.
Collins
Joanne E
JE
Department of Health, Population Research and Outcome Studies Unit, South Australia. joanne.collins@adelaide.edu.au
Gill
Tiffany K
TK
Chittleborough
Catherine R
CR
Martin
A James
AJ
Taylor
Anne W
AW
Winefield
Helen
H
D000293:Adolescent; D001249:Asthma / Q000150:complications / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007398:Interpersonal Relations; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors