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RESPIRATORY HEALTH OF RURAL AND FARM WOMEN IN THE KEOKUK COUNTY RURAL HEALTH STUDY
Citation:
Naleway, A., N. Sprince, E. Svendsen, A. Stromquist, AND J. Merchant. RESPIRATORY HEALTH OF RURAL AND FARM WOMEN IN THE KEOKUK COUNTY RURAL HEALTH STUDY. Presented at American Thoracic Society, Atlanta, GA, May 17-22, 2002.
Description:
RESPIRATORY HEALTH OF RURAL AND FARM WOMEN IN THE KEOKUK COUNTY RURAL HEALTH STUDY
Allison L. Naleway*, Nancy L. Sprince?, Erik R. Svendsen?, Ann M. Stromquist?, James A. Merchant?
*Marshfield Medical Research and Education Foundation, Marshfield, WI; ?University of Iowa College of Public Health, Iowa City, IA; ?USEPA, Research Triangle Park, NC
The Keokuk County Rural Health Study is a prospective study of 1,004 households in an entirely rural Iowa county. Data from the first round of this study are used to describe the self-reported prevalence of respiratory symptoms in 885 women, and to identify exposures associated with these symptoms. The prevalence of usual cough was significantly higher among town (23.1%) and rural non-farm (20.2%) women compared to farm (11.9%) women. Shortness of breath was also more common among town (43.4%) and rural non-farm (37.7%) women compared to farm (31.6%) women. No significant differences in the prevalence of wheeze apart from colds, chest tightness, asthma, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, and bronchial hyperreactivity were observed across the residential strata. Atopy was more common among town women (48.0%) compared to farm (38.5%) and rural non-farm (35.7%) women. The overall prevalence of smoking was low (14.7%), especially among farm women (11.2%). Smoking was significantly associated with wheeze (OR=2.88, 95% CI: 1.85-4.46), cough (OR=2.55, 95% CI: 1.69-3.86), and chest tightness (OR=1.53, 95% CI: 1.02-2.28). The Keokuk County Rural Health Study is one of the few population-based epidemiologic studies to examine respiratory health and exposures among women living and working in rural agricultural environments. This abstract does not necessarily represent EPA policy.
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