Document Type
Article
Publication Title
International Journal of Circumpolar Health
Publisher
Co-Action Publishing on behalf of the Circumpolar Health Research Network
Publication Date
5-9-2014
Volume
73
Disciplines
Medical Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences | Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
Abstract
Background. Air pollution is an important contributor to respiratory disease in children.
Objective. To examine associations between household reporting of childhood respiratory conditions and household characteristics related to air pollution in Alaska Native communities.
Design. In-home surveys were administered in 2 rural regions of Alaska. The 12-month prevalence of respiratory conditions was summarized by region and age. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated to describe associations between respiratory health and household and air quality characteristics.
Results. Household-reported respiratory health data were collected for 561 children in 328 households. In 1 region, 33.6% of children aged/or bronchitis. Children with these conditions were 2 times more likely to live in a wood-heated home, but these findings were imprecise. Resident concern with mould was associated with elevated prevalence of respiratory infections in children (ORs 1.6–2.5), while reported wheezing was associated with 1 or more smokers living in the household. Reported asthma in 1 region (7.6%) was lower than national prevalence estimates.
Conclusions. Findings suggest that there may be preventable exposures, including wood smoke and mould that affect childhood respiratory disease in these rural areas. Additional research is needed to quantify particulate matter 2.5 microns in aerodynamic diameter or less and mould exposures in these communities, and to objectively evaluate childhood respiratory health.
Keywords
air pollution, Alaska, asthma, children, respiratory tract infections, surveys
DOI
10.3402/ijch.v73.24324
Rights
© 2014 Desirae N. Ware et al.
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Ware, Desirae N.; Lewis, Johnnye; Hopkins, Scarlett; Boyer, Bert; Montrose, Luke; Noonan, Curis W.; Semmens, Erin O.; and Ward, Tony J., "Household reporting of childhood respiratory health and air pollution in rural Alaska Native communities" (2014). Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications. 17.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/biopharm_pubs/17
Comments
Link to Publisher's Version: http://www.circumpolarhealthjournal.net/index.php/ijch/article/view/24324/html