Date of Conferral

2023

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Public Health

Advisor

Tolulope Andrea Osoba

Abstract

AbstractDespite the availability of effective asthma control, the prevalence of uncontrolled asthma continues to increase worldwide, particularly among children. Marion County children experience more uncontrolled asthma than the Indiana state averages. Exposure to socioenvironmental factors may play a pivotal role in childhood uncontrolled asthma; however, there is still limited recent research about this relationship. The purpose of this study was to determine whether there is a relationship between the specific socioenvironmental factors (income, tobacco smoke, indoor mold, household pets, and pests) and the prevalence of childhood uncontrolled asthma in Marion County, IN. This study used secondary data collected between 2018, and 2020 from a previous asthma case management of 164 participants. This study used the ecological system theory model to understand the factors that put children at risk for uncontrolled asthma. Two multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to determine the relationship between these specific factors and asthma emergency department (ED) visits and between these specific factors and asthma control test (ACT) score. In the first regression model, four of the five specific factors including mold, tobacco smoke, pests, and Medicaid were statistically associated with asthma ED visits. In the second regression model, all five specific factors were statistically associated with the ACT score at P < 0.05. Only the variable mold was found to be a strong predictor in both regression models. Understanding the underlying factors that lead to prevalence of childhood uncontrolled asthma in Marion County may impact social change by increasing the quality of life of patients with uncontrolled asthma, their families, and the community at large.

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