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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
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The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA |
C. Patricia Penn, RN, V. I. Department of Health, Maternal Child Health & Children With Special Health Care Needs, P. O. Box 1655, St. Thomas, US Virgin Island 00804, 340-776-3580, cppenn@earthlink.net
The Virgin Islands has been affected by the public health challenge of the increasing incidence of asthma. This is attributed to several factors including increases in industrial pollutants, occupational and airborne allergens. Additionally, the Virgin Islands experiences an increase in asthma prevalence during the hurricane season, due to large dust particles from the Sahara Desert and to increases in environmental and emotional stress.
Current data on asthma found that approximately 20-33 percent of the pediatric population, and 10 percent of the adult population has asthma. The Maternal Child Health & Children With Special Health Care Needs (MCH & CSHCN) needs assessment survey (1999) found that asthma was the leading diagnosis for hospitalization on St. Croix at 11 percent (N=273)and the third leading diagnosis on St. Thomas-St. John at 8.4 percent (N=261).
There are several public health programs that promote access to quality comprehensive health care. Asthma education classes are offered on St. Croix. The American Lung Association (ALA), St. Thomas Chapter is active in promoting asthma prevention education at schools from K - 6th grade by introducing the Open Airways and Clean Air Programs .
The Department of Health established a community based Asthma Coalition, a collaborative partnership with public - private agencies. Activities for FY 2002 include a media campaign for the community at large to increase awareness of the prevalence of asthma; provide information on preventive medical management, and to implement policies that provide access to medication and appropriate treatment.
Learning Objectives:
Keywords: Asthma,
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.