Asthma is the most common childhood chronic disease, with approximately 13 percent of children in Ontario diagnosed with the condition. Childhood asthma is associated with higher rates of disability, school absences, and poor academic performance. The household environment is a key determinant of health for those living with asthma.
This paper describes how current multi-trigger, multicomponent interventions are working within the household. It also addresses the fidelity of these interventions to evidence-based health equity practices. At the time of writing this report, no initiatives in Toronto focus on reducing allergens within the homes of low-income families with asthmatic children. Public health units, hospitals, and community organizations in the Greater Toronto Area could use this framework to improve housing quality for these families.
Since childhood asthma is a complex condition, interventions aimed at addressing multiple indoor air allergens through multiple approaches (multi-trigger, multicomponent) are best at reducing asthma morbidity among low-income children.