RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 More effective home heating reduces school absences for children with asthma
JF Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health
JO J Epidemiol Community Health
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 379
OP 386
DO 10.1136/jech.2008.086520
VO 64
IS 5
A1 S Free
A1 P Howden-Chapman
A1 N Pierse
A1 H Viggers
A1 the Housing, Heating and Health Study Research Team
YR 2010
UL http://jech.bmj.com/content/64/5/379.abstract
AB Background New Zealand homes are underheated by international standards, with average indoor temperatures below the WHO recommended minimum of 18°C. Research has highlighted the connection between low indoor temperatures and adverse health outcomes, including social functioning and psychological well-being. Both health effects and social effects can impact on school absence rates. The aim of this study was to determine whether more effective home heating affects school absence for children with asthma.Methods A single-blinded randomised controlled trial of heating intervention in 409 households containing an asthmatic child aged 6–12 years, where the previous heating was an open fire, plug-in electric heater or unflued gas heater. The intervention was the installation of a more effective heater of at least 6 kW before the winter of 2006 in half the houses. Demographic and health information was collected both before and after the intervention. Each child's school was contacted directly and term-by-term absence information for that child obtained for 2006 and previous years where available.Results Complete absence data were obtained for 269 out of 409 children. Compared with the control group, children in households receiving the intervention experienced on average 21% (p=0.02) fewer days of absence after allowing for the effects of other factors.Conclusion More effective, non-indoor polluting heating reduces school absence for asthmatic children.