Living and working in poor conditions has clearly impacted asthma rates. But, environmental factors are not the only cause. While they may contribute to high rates of asthma, pollution and other triggers don't account for high death rates.
Medical Access and Education
Regular access to medical care is essential for preventing and monitoring disease status. Asthma is a disease that can be controlled, but only if a doctor can diagnose the illness, medication can be prescribed and taken and the patient can be seen regularly to monitor progress.
"A lot of the problem is poor quality of care," says Dr. Raoul Wolf, former board member of the American Lung Association. "That is a problem particularly in poorer areas."
Unfortunately, poor medical coverage also gets in the way. Nineteen percent of African Americans are uninsured, according to census data, above the national average of 15 percent. If a parent is not insured, the children are unlikely to be covered as well. Add on the fact that nearly one in three African Americans live below the poverty line and you begin to see the economic problem.
"You can pay $160 for a one-month supply of one medicine, and most asthma patients need at least two," says Dr. Stephanie Whyte, clinic physician on the Asthma Van at the Mobile Care Foundation, an organization that provides free medical care in poor communities. "That's a lot of money, especially when you are trying to make ends meet. God forbid you have more than one child with asthma and they also need medications."
