Study: Asthmatic Kids from Single Parent Homes Visit Hosp. More Often
From the archive. This post was first published on the original Green Eggs and Moms blog and is kept here as it was.
Can the reason for kids returning more to hospitals be because they come from single-parent homes? A study conducted by Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center says yes.
The research compared asthmatic children who live with one parent, to those who stayed with both. They found that the former were 50% more likely to be re-admitted to hospitals than the latter. Why is this so?
Tending to a child with asthma requires time and care. Triggers, such as dust, have to be avoided to prevent attacks from occurring. Keeping a house as dust-free as possible takes time, which single parents may not have a lot of. Single parent homes may also struggle with the additional cost of asthma medications.
Do note that this study was conducted in the US, which makes it biased to their lifestyle. Here in the Phils, households, including single parent homes, often employ helpers to do housework. So for those of you who have the extra help, managing children with asthma may be a tad easier.
Another thing going for Philippine households is that relatives usually live nearby. These extended family members are usually supportive: they watch over children when the parent is at work or even provide financial help.
What should you take away from this?Asthma is a serious condition that requires a lot of work from parents. If you are a single mom or dad with an asthmatic child, and little time to care for his needs, seek help from family or friends. Likewise, if you know anyone who needs help caring for their asthmatic kid, be ready to lend a hand. The goal is to keep these children out of hospitals.
What we want is a community of supportive parents who are ready to provide assistance to households that have time and/or budget constraints. So, let’s get started.
Source:
ScienceCodex.com, New interventions, recommendations for controlling allergies & asthma in children
Photo:
Creative Commons from noii’s
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