Are maternal and community risk factors associated with the presence of asthma among children placed in foster care?

Objective: The occurrence of pediatric asthma has been associated with exposure to chronic stress. This study examined the relationship between maternal and community risk factors and asthma in a sample of maltreated children in foster care. Method: Interviews were conducted with 365 maltreated children in foster care. Measures included youth/caregiver reports of asthma, an index of maternal risk based on data abstracted from child welfare records and community violence exposure. Results: After controlling for demographic variables, maternal risk was associated with the presence of asthma (OR = 1314,95% CI = 1.09-1.58). Community violence exposure, however, was not related to the presence of asthma. Conclusion: Maternal risk factors were significantly associated with the presence of asthma in a foster care population. Physicians who care for maltreated children in foster care should be particularly attuned to the presence of these additional risk factors that may place high-risk children at increased risk for chronic health problems. (C) 2012 Published by Elsevier Ltd.