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document
Asthma and the home environment of low-income urban children : preliminary findings from the Seattle-King County healthy homes project . 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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Intervention_Other
intervention
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Outcome_Other
Mold was visible
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Outcome_Other
water damage
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Outcome_Other
damp conditions
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Outcome_Other
Dust-trapping reservoirs
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Outcome_Other
Cockroach infestation in the past 3 months
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Outcome_Other
association of roaches and asthma
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Outcome_Other
allergy-control mattress covers .
3235
Participant_Age
children
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Participant_Age
children
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Participant_Age
4-12
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Participant_Condition
asthma
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Participant_Age
children
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Participant_Condition
asthma
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Participant_Sample-size
112
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Participant_Age
children
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Participant_Condition
asthma