Asthma Health Disparity

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airway that impacts a person’s and their family’s quality of life. In people with asthma, their airway becomes constricted with swelling and excessive mucous. This constriction or narrowing of the airway makes it difficult for the person with asthma to breath (Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 2009). If asthma is left uncontrolled, it leads to further wheezing, coughing, shortness of breath, tiredness, and stress. (Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 2009).

It is important to research environmental risk factors that influence asthma in low income neighborhoods to find possible ways to prevent asthma. The study “Urban Asthma and the Neighborhood Environment in New York City” proves that there is a positive correlation between neighborhoods and asthma hospitalizations.2 Children in lower income neighborhoods are more likely to be hospitalized due to asthma. Those living in lower income neighborhoods also tend to be minorities, which implies that African Americans and Latinos are more susceptible to asthma.2 Moreover, minorities are more likely to be living in public housing. The study explains that 11% of all housing units in Harlem is broken down and not suitable for living which proves that there is a positive correlation between the population of minorities and living in run-down housing and asthma related hospitalization.2

The relationship between the determinants of health and health outcomes had been thoroughly studied. In policies or programs to reduce and prevent health disparities, factors that contribute to the rise in trends are called the determinants of social health. It is equally important to recognize that childhood is an important time in which interventions can have a significant impact on health outcomes throughout life. (Dubiel et al, 2010)

R.J. is a 15-year-old boy with a history of asthma diagnosed at age 8. His asthma episodes are triggered by exposure to cats and various plant pollens. He has been using his albuterol inhaler 10 to 12 times per day over the last 3 days and is continuing to wheeze. He normally needs his inhaler only occasionally (2 or 3 times per week). He takes no other medications and has no other known medical conditions. Physical examination reveals moderate respiratory distress with a respiratory rate of 32, oximetry 90%, peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) 60% of predicted, and expiratory wheezing.

Asthma is a chronic respiratory condition, ranked as the highest cause of non-fatal burden in Australians aged 5 to 14, and the seventh highest overall in 2010, according to the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (cited in the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2013). In addition, a 2014 report of Australian health conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows that in 2011-2012, asthma affected 10.2% of the Australian population, double that of the prevalence of heart disease and diabetes (5%) but on par with hypertension (10.2%). What is more, an Indigenous person is twice as likely to report having asthma than a non-Indigenous person (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2014). Hence, asthma is

This results in Hispanics Americans living in very tightly-knit segregated urban communities, in older housing, and lack access to healthcare that can contribute to asthma exacerbation (Bhan et al., 2015). In the State of Connecticut there is a program called, Putting on AIRS or Asthma Indoor Risk Strategies. This program designed to assess environmental risk in the homes for asthmatic children and families. The hope is to reduce the frequency of asthma-related events by identifying environmental triggers. A public health nurse experienced in asthma management, conducts asthma education in the home. There is also an assessment for environmental asthma triggers in the home such as roach infestation or mold. The program follows participants over a six-month time frame, and has been shown to significantly improve outcomes for asthmatics (Nepaul et al.,

According to Stingone and Claudio, urgent health care services cost one-third of total asthma health care and the minority children of African American and Latino families had a much higher rate of using emergency department (ED) and hospitalization in urban areas. They found that the prevalence of

Governmental agencies influence health policies by influencing the Federal government, State government, and local laws by using population health research studies and interventions studies reported of health disparities. In addition to being well informed with health disparities they have access to investing, research and collecting evidence in assisting them to gather information that can influence health care polices. With each research that is conducted can possibly create new or old policies to be improved and aimed to reduce health disparities.

In today’s society there are many Health disparities that affect millions of Americans each year. Approximately 1.5 million people, who die each year, die from chronic diseases that are listed as one of the top 10 global health disparities. The type of health disparities that Americans face are Heart disease, Cardiovascular disease, Type II Diabetes, Colon cancer, and Obesity. Heart disease is the leading cause of death throughout the world. Cardiovascular disease and cancer account for almost two-thirds of all deaths in the United States.

By age group (in years), those of the ages 18-24 have the highest prevalence of asthma which is 13.3% and ages 45-54 have the second highest prevalence of asthma that is 11.3%. Those of the ages 25-34 have a 9.8% prevalence of asthma. The ages 35-44 have a 9.7%, the ages 65-74 have a 9.6%, the ages 55-64 have a 9.4%, and lastly the ages 75 and older have an 8.2% prevalence of asthma. For gender, females have a higher prevalence of asthma (12.5%) than males (7.7%). By race/ethnicity, those who are black have the highest prevalence of asthma which is 11.8%, individuals that are defined as other than white, black, or Hispanic have the second highest prevalence which is 11.6%, Hispanics have a 11.5% prevalence, and white individuals have a 9.9% prevalence of asthma. Based on household income, those who make less than $20K per year have the highest prevalence of asthma, however; there is no trend of high to low asthma prevalence based on income. With an income of $20K per year, the asthma prevalence is 11.3%, and with an income of $35K it is a 6.6%. However, after $35K the asthma prevalence percentage begins to ride. A household income making $50K per year has a 7.4% asthma prevalence, and an income of >$75K has an 8.8%. After the >$75K there is no further information on higher incomes. Additionally, individuals who suffer from a disability

In a study done by Praphul et al. (2012) health disparities collaborative were implemented in three federally qualified health centers in Louisiana in order to improve the delivery of quality care and improve the outcomes of patients diagnosed with diabetes and heart failure. A qualitative study was conducted with interviews done with the chief operating officer, lead physician, and nurse coordinator. Data was analyzed by interpretative coding. The study was limited by staff turnover, learning curves of employees, remote location of facilities, lower economic status meant limited ability for follow-up visits. Despite these limitations the study concluded that in order to use a collaborative approach in order to improve patient outcomes several

After I read your post,I looked at the good and bad "asthma cities" on AAFA.org. I discovered that Oklahoma City was ranked the fifth worst in 2015. I knew a couple of kids growing up that had asthma and no longer have it now. I've always heard of some people outgrowing asthma and epilepsy.

Ten wonderful years whizzed by. They were happy times, indeed. The quaint Asthma's Store went on to be one of those most cherished landmarks in town. Ronnie's childhood was divided between home, school, and his association with Asthma's. This is where he grew up and turned into the man he was to become. Play, fun, work, education, imagination, discipline, and vision all developed stemming from these influences, and yet his nature was far from serious. He even did his school homework under Luda and the clan's tutelage and always at the top of his class. Ronnie's parents knew where he was. He was a great son and always did as he was told, although his story-telling continued to perplex them all the way through his teen years. As far as his

New York City is composed of some of the world’s most unique and eccentric neighborhoods the world has ever seen. Amongst these neighborhoods, one can expect to find Bushwick (Community District 4) and Williamsburg (Community District 1), nestled in in the northern tip of Brooklyn borough. The earliest colonizers included the Dutch, French, Scandinavians, and English farmers. Today, however, the spectrum of racial distribution has changed drastically in which the top ethnic groups include Puerto Rican, African American, Dominican, Ecuadorian, and Mexican, Polish, Italian, and Hasidic Jews. Both neighborhoods have an abnormally large rate of preventable illness and death issues. Reasons as to why these districts are facing such high illness rates could be because of language barriers, economic conditions, and lack of a primary care physician monitoring health.

Considering the social, cultural, and environmental theories let’s look at two theories and the behaviors associated with public health issues when it comes to children with asthma. The theories that are good in helping with the social, environmental, and cultural with children with asthma are Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory, both have their own ways of helping with the public issue of asthma in children. These two theories are similar because they are social and environmental theories rather than individual behavioral theories. They help us focus on the external influences that surround a behavior change. Yet, these theories are very complex and have many factors that work together. When we look at them apart we have the understanding that the SCT explores why and how individuals change behaviors. On the other hand, DOI helps us explore how a behavior can become the norm. Both theories can bring light to helping look at different factors of children that have asthma, whether it is how social and culture affect these children, to the environment that can make asthma a huge problem without changes within our environments.