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Investigation of the Environmental and Socio-Economic Characteristics of Counties with a High Asthma Burden to Focus Asthma Action in Utah

Author

Listed:
  • Maureen Vowles

    (Department of Public Health and Policy, University of Liverpool, Liverpool L69 3GB, UK)

  • Ruth Kerry

    (Department of Geography, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602, USA)

  • Ben Ingram

    (Faculty of Engineering, Universidad de Talca, Curicó 3460000, Chile)

  • Linda Mason

    (Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool L3 5QA, UK)

Abstract

Rising adult asthma prevalence (AAP) rates and asthma emergency room (AER) visits constitute a large burden on public health in Utah (UT), a high-altitude state in the Great Basin Desert, USA. This warrants an investigation of the characteristics of the counties with the highest asthma burden within UT to improve allocation of health resources and for planning. The relations between several predictor environmental, health behavior and socio-economic variables and two health outcome variables, AAP and AER visits, were investigated for UT’s 29 counties. Non-parametric statistical comparison tests, correlation and linear regression analysis were used to determine the factors significantly associated with AER visits and AAP. Regression kriging with Utah small area data (USAD) as well as socio-economic and pollution data enabled local Moran’s I cluster analysis and the investigation of moving correlations between health outcomes and risk factors. Results showed the importance of desert/mining dust and socio-economic status as AAP and AER visits were greatest in the south of the state, highlighting a marked north–south divide in terms of these factors within the state. USAD investigations also showed marked differences in pollution and socio-economic status associated with AAP within the most populous northern counties. Policies and interventions need to address socio-economic inequalities within counties and between the north and south of the state. Fine (PM 2.5 ) and coarse (PM 10 ) particulate matter monitors should be installed in towns in central and southern UT to monitor air quality as these are sparse, but in the summer, air quality can be worse here. Further research into spatiotemporal variation in air quality within UT is needed to inform public health interventions such as expanding clean fuel programs and targeted land-use policies. Efforts are also needed to examine barriers to routine asthma care.

Suggested Citation

  • Maureen Vowles & Ruth Kerry & Ben Ingram & Linda Mason, 2020. "Investigation of the Environmental and Socio-Economic Characteristics of Counties with a High Asthma Burden to Focus Asthma Action in Utah," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(14), pages 1-31, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:14:p:5251-:d:387381
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Amit Kr. Gorai & Paul B. Tchounwou & Francis Tuluri, 2016. "Association between Ambient Air Pollution and Asthma Prevalence in Different Population Groups Residing in Eastern Texas, USA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-17, March.
    2. Esther Ayaaba & Yan Li & Jiali Yuan & Chunhui Ni, 2017. "Occupational Respiratory Diseases of Miners from Two Gold Mines in Ghana," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-14, March.
    3. Pierre Goovaerts & Geoffrey M. Jacquez, 2005. "Detection of temporal changes in the spatial distribution of cancer rates using local Moran’s I and geostatistically simulated spatial neutral models," Journal of Geographical Systems, Springer, vol. 7(1), pages 137-159, October.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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