Relationship between asthma occurrence in children and the educational level of their caregivers, family income and housing conditions

Abstract

ABSTRACT Objective: to verify the relationship between the educational level of the parents and/or caretakers, family income and housing conditions with the prevalence of asthma in children assisted by both public and private health service in Sorocaba City region. Methods: Study Case control based on the use of three questionnaires to 138 participating children's parents and/or care takers, being 72 asthmatic (diagnosed through clinical criteria).From the sample's total, 58 were patients of the pediatrics pneumology public ambulatory service and 80 from the private service. Results: the percentage of children diagnosed with asthma was significantly higher in the group whose mothers had a lower educational level; presenting 7.2 chances of developing asthma with p 0,02. As to per capita income, the percentage of children diagnosed with asthma was similar in the extremes(less than one and more than three minimum salaries per month) and bigger than the intermediate level (one to three minimum salaries per month) presenting X2 14, 36 and with p 0,0008. Concerning housing conditions, there were no significant statistical differences in the group of children with or without asthma. Conclusion: it has been noticed a higher prevalence of asthma in groups which are both in a better and worse financial situation and, also, in those groups whose mothers had a lower educational level. These results are in accordance with most existing data. The variable housing condition has not shown any significant statistical results.