Detroit Alliance for Asthma Awareness
Detroit Asthma Statistics
In Michigan, about 10% of the population has asthma, but only 50% of adults with asthma report that their condition is well controlled. Asthma symptoms can be prevented and controlled, allowing an active, healthy life, and reducing unnecessary visits to emergency departments.
The asthma burden in Detroit was found to be greater than the overall asthma burden in Michigan. The prevalence of current asthma among Detroit adults was 29% higher than in Michigan as a whole. The rate of hospitalizations for asthma was more than three times greater for Detroit residents than for Michigan residents as a whole.
- In 2012‐2014, 15.5% of Detroit adults and 11.0% of Michigan adults currently had asthma.
- In 2012‐2014, 11.3% of Detroit children and 9.7% of Michigan children currently had asthma.
- In 2013, 24% of all asthma hospitalizations in Michigan residents occurred in residents of Detroit (3,082 and 12,837 asthma hospitalizations in Detroit and Michigan residents, respectively)
- The rate of asthma hospitalizations in Detroit residents in 2013 was 43.3 per 10,000 population.
- The asthma hospitalization rate in Detroit in 2013 was 3.5 times the rate in Michigan as a whole.
- Between 2008 and 2013, the rates of asthma hospitalization in Detroit and Michigan decreased by 15.3 and 3.9 asthma hospitalizations per 10,000 population, which is a decrease of 24% and 26%, respectively.
Mission
The mission of the Detroit Alliance for Asthma Awareness is to conduct comprehensive Asthma education, training and outreach activities throughout the City of Detroit. The Alliance will aim to reduce the number of asthma episodes that result in Emergency Room visits, hospitalizations and, missed school or work days. Ultimately, the Alliance will strive to improve the quality of life for people with asthma.
History
The Detroit Asthma Coalition (DAC) had been providing asthma awareness in Detroit for seven years. The purpose of DAC was to raise asthma awareness and provide asthma management training for health care personnel. Several staff represented Detroit Department of Health and Wellness Promotion (DHWP) as DAC members.
In September 2004, DHWP created the Center for Asthma Education, Management, and Policy (DHWP-CAEMP) to develop and implement a comprehensive asthma management program for the city of Detroit, the first such program for asthma in the City.
To assist with this endeavor,
DHWP-CAEMP identified organizations and community members involved in asthma programs and projects in the City and invited them to work as a collaborative to address the asthma problem in Detroit. The collaborative partnership became the Detroit Alliance for Asthma Awareness (Alliance). DAC was one of the original 15 members of the Alliance. Due to the vision expressed and strong leadership by the DHWP-CAEMP Administrator and Alliance Chair, the DAC Executive Board decided to dissolve DAC in October 2004 and transfer all of their resources to the Alliance.
Currently, the Alliance members represent a broad spectrum of community-based organizations, health care organizations, school systems, state agencies, and citizens. With participation from groups representing African-Americans, Hispanics, Arabs/Chaldean, and Caucasians, the Alliance is ethnically diverse.
The comprehensive program is for both children and adults with a particular focus on the uninsured and underinsured asthma population and those considered high-risk.In addition to people with asthma, education and outreach activities include but are not limited to health care personnel (including those in the schools), community-based organizations, children, parents, faith-based organizations, school personnel, day care providers, employers, managed care organizations, housing agencies, and policy makers.
Location
Detroit / Wayne County
Contact
Rita Nabor
313-819-4641
thedaaa@gmail.com