Addressing the Childhood Asthma Crisis in Harlem: The Harlem Childrens Zone Asthma Initiative
Stephen W. Nicholas, MD,
Betina Jean-Louis, PhD,
Benjamin Ortiz, MD,
Mary Northridge, PhD, MPH,
Katherine Shoemaker, MPP,
Roger Vaughan, DrPH, MS,
Michaela Rome, PhD,
Geoffrey Canada, MEd and
Vincent Hutchinson, MD For The Harlem Childrens Zone Asthma Initiative
Stephen W. Nicholas, Benjamin Ortiz, and Vincent Hutchinson are with the Department of Pediatrics, Harlem Hospital Center/Columbia University, New York, NY; Betina Jean-Louis, Michaela Rome, Katherine Shoemaker, and Geoffrey Canada are with the Harlem Childrens Zone, Inc., New York; Mary Northridge and Roger Vaughan are with the Harlem Health Promotion Center, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York.
Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Stephen W. Nicholas, MD, Department of Pediatrics, Harlem Hospital Center/Columbia University, 506 Lenox Avenue, MLK 17-105, New York, NY 10037 (e-mail: swn2{at}columbia.edu).
Objectives. We determined the prevalence of asthma and estimatedbaseline asthma symptoms and asthma management strategies amongchildren aged 012 years in Central Harlem.
Methods. The Harlem Childrens Zone Asthma Initiativeis a longitudinal, community-based intervention designed forpoor children with asthma. Children aged 012 years wholive or go to school in the Harlem Childrens Zone Projector who participate in any Harlem Childrens Zone, Inc,program were screened for asthma. Children with asthma or asthma-likesymptoms were invited to participate in an intensive intervention.
Results. Of the 1982 children currently screened, 28.5% havebeen told by a doctor or nurse that they have asthma, and 30.3%have asthma or asthma-like symptoms. To date, 229 children areenrolled in the Harlem Childrens Zone Asthma Initiative;at baseline, 24.0% had missed school in the last 14 days becauseof asthma.
Conclusion. The high prevalence of asthma among children inthe Harlem Childrens Zone Project is consistent withreports from other poor urban communities. Intensive effortsare under way to reduce childrens asthma symptoms andimprove their asthma management strategies.
This article has been cited by other articles:
J. K. Gerald, Y. Sun, R. Grad, and L. B. Gerald Asthma Morbidity Among Children Evaluated by Asthma Case Detection
Pediatrics,
November 1, 2009;
124(5):
e927 - e933.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
E. R. Ochoa Jr and C. Nash Community Engagement and its Impact on Child Health Disparities: Building Blocks, Examples, and Resources
Pediatrics,
November 1, 2009;
124(Supplement_3):
S237 - S245.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
M. Minkler, V. B. Vasquez, M. Tajik, and D. Petersen Promoting Environmental Justice Through Community-Based Participatory Research: The Role of Community and Partnership Capacity
Health Educ Behav,
February 1, 2008;
35(1):
119 - 137.
[Abstract][PDF]
A. Furumoto-Dawson, S. Gehlert, D. Sohmer, O. Olopade, and T. Sacks Early-Life Conditions And Mechanisms Of Population Health Vulnerabilities
Health Aff.,
September 1, 2007;
26(5):
1238 - 1248.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
R. Grant, S. Bowen, D. E. McLean, D. Berman, K. Redlener, and I. Redlener Asthma Among Homeless Children in New York City: An Update
Am J Public Health,
March 1, 2007;
97(3):
448 - 450.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
M. M. Cloutier, D. B. Wakefield, P. Sangeloty-Higgins, S. Delaronde, and C. B. Hall Asthma Guideline Use by Pediatricians in Private Practices and Asthma Morbidity
Pediatrics,
November 1, 2006;
118(5):
1880 - 1887.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]
K. Quinn, M. U. Shalowitz, C. A. Berry, T. Mijanovich, and R. L. Wolf Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Diagnosed and Possible Undiagnosed Asthma Among Public-School Children in Chicago
Am J Public Health,
September 1, 2006;
96(9):
1599 - 1603.
[Abstract][Full Text][PDF]