Eunjung Lim1, James Davis1, So Yung Choi1, John J Chen1. 1. John A Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa, 651 Ilalo Street, Medical Education Building, Suite 411, Honolulu, HI 96813.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: From 5 to 7.5 million schoolchildren are chronically absent, defined as missing ≥15 days of school within a year. Students miss schools due to various reasons such as health, socioeconomic status, and environmental factors. We examined child's health and behavior, family structure, and sociodemographics to understand chronic absenteeism. METHODS: The population included children ages 6 to 17 years from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey years 2008-2013. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify the risk factors of chronic absenteeism, adjusting for the complex sampling design. RESULTS: Among sociodemographic variables, age ≥14 years, race/ethnicity, lower-income family, public health insurance, US born, and speaking English at home were associated with absenteeism. Asians, Mexican Hispanics, and blacks have lower absenteeism than whites. Among health-related variables, children using an inhaler for asthma, having behavioral problems, and less healthy than other children were more likely to be chronically absent. Among family variables, a smaller family size was a risk factor for absenteeism. CONCLUSIONS: Asthma and behavioral problems were highly associated with chronic absenteeism. The identification of children at risk for chronic absenteeism will help the educational professionals identify the barriers to academic achievements and develop integrated educational interventions and policies to support disadvantaged children.
BACKGROUND: From 5 to 7.5 million schoolchildren are chronically absent, defined as missing ≥15 days of school within a year. Students miss schools due to various reasons such as health, socioeconomic status, and environmental factors. We examined child's health and behavior, family structure, and sociodemographics to understand chronic absenteeism. METHODS: The population included children ages 6 to 17 years from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey years 2008-2013. Multivariable logistic regressions were used to identify the risk factors of chronic absenteeism, adjusting for the complex sampling design. RESULTS: Among sociodemographic variables, age ≥14 years, race/ethnicity, lower-income family, public health insurance, US born, and speaking English at home were associated with absenteeism. Asians, Mexican Hispanics, and blacks have lower absenteeism than whites. Among health-related variables, children using an inhaler for asthma, having behavioral problems, and less healthy than other children were more likely to be chronically absent. Among family variables, a smaller family size was a risk factor for absenteeism. CONCLUSIONS:Asthma and behavioral problems were highly associated with chronic absenteeism. The identification of children at risk for chronic absenteeism will help the educational professionals identify the barriers to academic achievements and develop integrated educational interventions and policies to support disadvantaged children.
Authors: Jeffrey J Wood; Sarah D Lynne-Landsman; David A Langer; Patricia A Wood; Shaunna L Clark; J Mark Eddy; Nick Ialongo Journal: Child Dev Date: 2011-12-21
Authors: Sheila Bonilla; Sarah Kehl; Kenny Y C Kwong; Tricia Morphew; Rital Kachru; Craig A Jones Journal: J Pediatr Date: 2005-12 Impact factor: 4.406
Authors: Eleanor Thornton; Suzanne Kennedy; Claire Hayes-Watson; Rebecca Z Krouse; Herman Mitchell; Richard D Cohn; Jeremy Wildfire; Mosanda M Mvula; Maureen Lichtveld; Faye Grimsley; William J Martin; Kevin U Stephens Journal: J Asthma Date: 2016-04-06 Impact factor: 2.515
Authors: Peter Classi; Denái Milton; Sarah Ward; Khaled Sarsour; Joseph Johnston Journal: Child Adolesc Psychiatry Ment Health Date: 2012-10-04 Impact factor: 3.033
Authors: A Tsakiris; M Iordanidou; E Paraskakis; A Tsalkidis; A Rigas; S Zimeras; C Katsardis; A Chatzimichael Journal: Biomed Res Int Date: 2013-07-09 Impact factor: 3.411