Correlates of Asthma among the Minority Population

Asthma is a severe and persistent problem, especially among people living in inner cities and urban areas. Despite the advances in the understanding of asthma pathogenesis and treatment in recent years, it remains a significant public health concern with its considerable morbidity and mortality worldwide. In as much as the problem of asthma is a worldwide issue, some communities have more of the burden than others. To determine the correlates of asthma inherent in the South Bronx that are predisposing minority children to asthma, the researcher conducted a cross-sectional study in the South Bronx area of New York City. Although the socioeconomic and environmental factors that are the focus of this study have been explored in national population based studies, the results may not necessarily translate into community level actions. Hence, smaller community level studies are needed to explore local determinants of asthma so that effective intervention plans can be developed and implemented at the local level.