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Asthma and the home environment of low-income urban children: Preliminary findings from the seattle-king county healthy homes project

  • Special Feature: Urban Home Environment and Health
  • Original Articles: Housing and Health
  • Published:
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Abstract

Objectives

Childhood asthma is a growing public health concern in low-income urban communities. Indoor exposure to asthma triggers has emerged as an important cause of asthma exacerbations. We describe indoor environmental conditions related to asthma triggers among a low-income urban population in Seattle/King County, Washington, as well as caregiver knowledge and resources related to control of these triggers.

Methods

Data are obtained from in-person, structured, closed-end interviews with the caretakers of children aged 4–12 years with persistent asthma living in households with incomes less than 200% of poverty. Additional information is collected during a home inspection. The children and their caregivers are participants in the ongoing Seattle-King County Healthy Homes Project, a randomized controlled trial of an intervention to empower low-income families to reduce exposure to indoor asthma triggers. We report findings on the conditions of the homes prior to this intervention among the first 112 enrolled households.

Results

A smoker was present in 37.5% of homes. Mold was visible in 26.8% of homes, water damage was present in 18.6% of homes, and damp conditions occurred in 64.8% of households, while 39.6% of caregivers were aware that excessive moisture can increase exposures to allergens. Dust-trapping reservoirs were common; 76.8% of children's bedrooms had carpeting. Cockroach infestation in the past 3 months was reported by 23.4% of caregivers, while 57.1% were unaware of the association of roaches and asthma. Only 19.8% of the children had allergy-control mattress covers.

Conclusions

Many low-income urban children with asthma in King County live in indoor environments that place them at substantial risk of ongoing exposure to asthma triggers. Substandard housing and lack of resources often underlie these exposures. Initiatives involving health educators, outreach workers, medical providers, health care insurers, housing agencies, and elected officials are needed to reduce these exposures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Seattle Partners for Healthy Communities/Public Health-Seattle and King County, 999 Third Avenue, Suite 1200-EPE, 98104-4039, Seattle, WA

    James W. Krieger MD, MPH &  Lin Song PhD

  2. Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Washington, USA

    James W. Krieger MD, MPH &  Timothy K. Takaro MD, MPH

  3. Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Washington, USA

    James W. Krieger MD, MPH &  James Stout MD, MPH

  4. Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Washington, USA

    James Stout MD, MPH

  5. Department of Environmental Health, University of Washington, Washington, USA

    Timothy K. Takaro MD, MPH

Authors
  1. James W. Krieger MD, MPH
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  2. Lin Song PhD
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  3. Timothy K. Takaro MD, MPH
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  4. James Stout MD, MPH
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to James W. Krieger MD, MPH.

Additional information

This study was supported by the National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences Community-Based Prevention/Intervention Research Award ES-96-008 with additional funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Cooperative Agreement U50/ CCU011820-02 (Urban Research Centers), Seattle Foundation, and Nesholm Foundation.

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Krieger, J.W., Song, L., Takaro, T.K. et al. Asthma and the home environment of low-income urban children: Preliminary findings from the seattle-king county healthy homes project. J Urban Health 77, 50–67 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02350962

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