Community-Based Asthma Interventions: Lessons from the Navajo Nation

A recent study found that a community asthma program on the Navajo Nation increased pediatric asthma care‑seeking and awareness during the COVID‑19 pandemic. Program monitoring found families were more vigilant and contacted clinics more often for asthma symptoms despite pandemic‑related constraints—an important signal because sustained care utilization during public‑health crises can reduce preventable exacerbations in children.

This uptick occurred against persistent gaps in pediatric asthma management and access. The initiative built on earlier outreach in remote communities and streamlined pathways to treatment, leveraging partnerships with schools and health systems to reach children where they live and learn.

Key operational elements included coordinated community outreach, structured in‑school contacts, and formal referral pathways supported by care navigation. Collaboration with the University of Arizona strengthened data sharing and staff training. Program registries documented higher rates of parent‑initiated clinic visits, increased completed follow‑up after school contacts, and improvements in controller medication adherence—linking these components to measurable increases in care utilization.

Early in the pandemic, school closures, transportation barriers, and reduced clinic capacity disrupted service delivery and briefly lowered some in‑person activities. The program adapted with remote outreach, contactless school workflows, and telehealth triage to preserve referral continuity. These changes maintained—and in some cases restored—critical pathways to care for children with asthma.