School Absenteeism in Children with Asthma in a Los Angeles Inner City School
Received 26 January 2005; received in revised form 19 May 2005; accepted 21 June 2005.
Objective
To investigate the pattern of school absenteeism in asthmatic children within a Los Angeles inner city school.
Study design
Five hundred twenty-eight students of predominant Hispanic ethnicity, from a Los Angeles inner city school were divided into 3 groups: known asthma, high probability of asthma, and low probability of asthma using a previously validated instrument. Attendance records of these students were analyzed to determine total and respiratory absences over a year. School records were compared to the corresponding answers on 513 surveys to determine the accuracy of parental responses in regard to their children's absenteeism.
Results
Children with known asthma missed on average 2 more days of school than children with low probability of asthma and high probability of asthma. This was only significant in the younger age groups. Survey responses were found to have a 45.6% agreement with school attendance records. Underestimation occurred more often when school-recorded absentee rates were highest. Overestimation occurred more by parents of children with known asthma or a high probability of asthma.
Conclusion
In a Los Angeles inner city population, younger children with known asthma miss more days of school than those with no asthma. Survey-reported absenteeism is less accurate than school attendance records.
From the Division of Allergy-Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Los Angeles County+University of Southern California Medical Center, Los Angeles Calif
Reprint requests: Kenny Y. C. Kwong, MD, Division of Allergy-Immunology, 1G1 General Labs Building, 1801 East Marengo St, Los Angeles, CA 90033.
Supported by grants from Merck, Genentech and Glaxo-Smith-Kline
ABSTRACT