Chronic Health Conditions, School Attendance, and Socioeconomic Factors: A Literature Review

Students with chronic health conditions experience many challenges, such as increased school absences, that may impact academic success. Additional academic problems exist for students with chronic health conditions who also have socioeconomic status (SES) factors. A systematic literature review as conducted to study the interactions between chronic health conditions, absenteeism, and factors associated with SES. Findings suggest that asthma, the most common chronic health condition in children, is the leading cause of health-related school absences. Findings also suggest that factors associated with SES, such as family income, also impact school attendance for students with chronic health conditions. Although the results are mixed for academic achievement abilities for student who have chronic health conditions, many academic challenges that students with chronic health conditions encounter can be explained by frequent school absences. Further research on school absences and SES factors affecting students with chronic illnesses is needed to help establish guidelines for appropriate school programming and positive school attendance support