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Does More Effective Home Heating Reduce School Absences for Children with Asthma
Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, 10/06/09

Free S et al. – Compared with the control group, children in households receiving the intervention experienced on average 21 percent fewer days of absence after allowing for the effects of other factors. More effective, non–indoor polluting heating reduces school absence for asthmatic children.

Exclusive Author Commentary
Philippa Howden-Chapman, 10/27/09

This randomized controlled intervention with data from 269 households provides evidence that installing more effective, energy efficient heating has a significant impact on the school attendance of asthmatic children and a similar but lesser effect on their siblings. Despite much research on childhood asthma, few studies have focussed on structural improvements to housing. This study is one of a handful worldwide which provide reliable quantitative data on the connection between low indoor temperatures and school absence. The study also provides evidence that low income and exposure to cigarette smoke are additional factors which impact on school absence. These results are important given the prevalence of asthma worldwide and the importance of education on life course and future opportunities. Partly as a result of this study and earlier research by our group, the government in New Zealand now offers financial assistance to install energy efficient heating in homes built before 2000 where there is currently no such heating.