A cross-sectional study on the association between living environment and respiratory diseases in school children

Objective To investigate factors in living environment that are associated with respiratory diseases in school children and to provide scientific basis for disease prevention and control strategies.Methods A sum of 1 016 students from the 3rd,4th and 5th grade of a primary school in Guangzhou were selected using stratified sampling method during the year of 2014-2015.Information regarding individual characteristics,household socioeconomic status,disease history of parents,as well as indoor and outdoor residential environment were collected through questionnaire survey.Results Multiple Logistic regression showed that compared with students without history of respiratory disease,students with respiratory disease were more likely to be boy(OR =1.52,95%CI=1.18-1.96),having drainage ditch(OR=1.66,95%CI=1.02-2.71),garbage station(OR=1.45,95%CI=1.04-2.03) within 100 meters from the residence,and frequent usage of mosquito repellents(OR=1.69,95%CI=1.26-2.26).Conclusion Residential environments have substantial impacts on respiratory health of school-aged children.