Summary: Previous studies of asthma-related school absenteeism have
reported absenteeism dichotomously (ie, any school days missed vs none). However,
schools use higher thresholds to identify and intervene for students at risk of
chronic absenteeism (18 days or ≥10% schoolyear missed), which is associated
with negative health and educational outcomes. Authors sought to identify
factors associated with excessive absenteeism (EA) due to asthma (≥9 days
missed), a threshold based on a convention defined by Attendance Works for
absenteeism risk, and is linked to decreased academic performance and increased
risk of chronic absenteeism.
Authors examined responses for
asthma-related absenteeism from the 2011 to 2014 California Health Interview
Survey for children ages 5-11.
Findings: 715 respondents represent an estimated 314,200 California
schoolchildren with asthma. 50.3% of students missed ≥1 day, and 11.7% missed
≥9 days of school due to asthma. Odds of EA were significantly higher for
younger children, lower-income families, and rural students, but not
significant for any absenteeism. Indicators of greater asthma severity and
poorer control were significantly associated with both EA and any absenteeism.
This study identified factors significantly associated with EA
that were not significant for lower absence thresholds. This may help direct
school-based asthma interventions for which limited resources must target
students at higher risk of chronic absenteeism.