A Multi-factorial Model for Examining Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Acute Asthma Visits by Children

BACKGROUND: Causes of children's asthma health disparities are complex. Parents' asthma illness representations may play a role. PURPOSE: The study aims to test a theoretically based, multi-factorial model for ethnic disparities in children's acute asthma visits through parental illness representations. METHODS: Structural equation modeling investigated the association of parental asthma illness representations, sociodemographic characteristics, health care provider factors, and social-environmental context with children's acute asthma visits among 309 White, Puerto Rican, and African American families was conducted. RESULTS: Forty-five percent of the variance in illness representations and 30% of the variance in acute visits were accounted for. Statistically significant differences in illness representations were observed by ethnic group. Approximately 30% of the variance in illness representations was explained for whites, 23% for African Americans, and 26% for Puerto Ricans. The model accounted for >30% of the variance in acute visits for African Americans and Puerto Ricans but only 19% for the whites. CONCLUSION: The model provides preliminary support that ethnic heterogeneity in asthma illness representations affects children's health outcomes.