Establishing the overall health status of low-income children enrolled in Head Start programs in Boston, Massachusetts from 2011-2012

Academy Health

Annual Research Meeting (ARM)

June 23-25, 2013 

Baltimore Convention Center 

Karine Martirosyan, MD, MPH 1

Karen McManemin, BA, MPH, PhD candidate 2

Jennifer Pawson, BA, RN, MSN 1

1. Head Start and Children’s Services, Action for Boston Community Development , Inc., Boston, MA

2. University of Colorado Denver, Department of Health and Behavioral Sciences, Denver, CO

Corresponding author email address: karine.martirosyan@bostonabcd.org

ABSTRACT Research Objective: To establish the most prevalent morbidities impacting the health of children 0 to 5 years of age

enrolled in Head Start programs and the overall health status of the population. Study Design: A Cross sectional analysis of data from the Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) Head

Start Promis Cleverex V5.16 database was conducted to determine the prevalence of specific morbidities among low-income children in Head Start programs. Descriptive statistics were calculated based on the child’s diagnosis, including asthma, allergies, eczema, optical problems, and heart conditions, in the Head Start database. The prevalence of dental caries and learning disabilities were not included in this analysis since previous research has focused specifically on these topics.

Population Studied: Children ages 0-5 years enrolled in Head Start or Early Head Start programs from 9/1/2011 to 5/31/2012. All children meet the federal guidelines for living at or below the poverty level. A total of 2,939 children’s records were included in the analysis.

Principal Findings: Of 2,939 children enrolled in ABCD Head Start programs, 548 (18.6%) were diagnosed with asthma, 348 (11.8%) with allergies and 68 (2.3%) with eczema. Additionally, 71 (2.4%) children have optical problems corrected with glasses and 16 (1%) have a diagnosed heart condition, such as heart palpitations.

Conclusions: The most common health conditions in this group were found to be asthma, allergies and vision problems. The study demonstrates that children in Head Start programs in Boston often have chronic health conditions that have the potential to impact their ability to learn in school and function in their daily lives.

Implications for Policy, Delivery, or Practice: This study provides a basis for initiating or continuing key services to the population of low-income children in Boston. There is need for families with young children to receive health education, particularly related to asthma and allergies, given the high prevalence of these conditions. Furthermore, the high rate of asthma in Head Start children indicates the need for assistance in providing asthma friendly homes and schools throughout Boston.

 

Introduction

Head Start is the federal government’s largest preschool program for low-income children.

Head Start (HS) serves children ages 3 to 5 years. Early Head Start (EHS) serves children 0 to 2.9 years.

Low-income children are at greater risk of numerous health conditions, including asthma.

Introduction

Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD) is Boston's antipoverty agency, serving more than 100,000 low-income Greater Boston residents.

ABCD Head Start and Children’s Services enrolls approximately 3000 low- income preschoolers, toddlers and infants during the regular school year.

Objective

To establish the most prevalent morbidities impacting the health of children 0 to 5 years of age enrolled in Head Start programs and the overall health status of the population.

Study Design A Cross sectional analysis of data from the Action for

Boston Community Development (ABCD) Head Start Promis Cleverex V5.16 database.

Determined the prevalence of specific morbidities among low-income children in Head Start programs.

Descriptive statistics were calculated based on the child’s diagnosis, including asthma, allergies, eczema, optical problems, and heart conditions, in the Head Start database.

The prevalence of dental caries and learning disabilities were not included in this analysis since previous research has focused specifically on these topics.

Population Studied

Children ages 0-5 years enrolled in Head Start or Early Head Start programs from 9/1/2011 to 5/31/2012.

All children meet the federal guidelines for living at or below the poverty level. A total of 2,939 children’s records were included in the analysis.

Findings Of 2,939 children enrolled in ABCD Head

Start programs, the following are the most common health concerns:

Conclusions

The most common health conditions in this group were found to be asthma, allergies and vision problems.

The study demonstrates that children in Head Start programs in Boston often have chronic health conditions that have the potential to impact their ability to learn in school and function in their daily lives.

Implications for Policy, Delivery, or Practice This study provides a basis for initiating or

continuing key services to the population of low-income children in Boston.

There is need for families with young children to receive health education, particularly related to asthma and allergies, given the high prevalence of these conditions.

Implications for Policy, Delivery, or Practice

The high rate of asthma in Head Start children indicates the need for assistance in providing asthma friendly homes and schools throughout Boston.