Prevalence and Influencing Factors of Eczema Among Preschool Children in Urumqi City: A Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: We explored the prevalence of eczema and indoor environmental factors in preschool children in Urumqi, Xinjiang, to provide a strong basis for the prevention and control of preschool eczema. Methods: : Using stratified random cluster sampling, we conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey among 8153 parents of children aged 2–8 years in 60 kindergartens in six districts of Urumqi City during August 2019. Results: : For the 8153 preschool children with valid data, the parent-reported prevalence of eczema was 12.0%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that cesarean section (odds ratio [OR] = 1.18, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03–1.36), being an only child (OR = 1.36, 95% CI: 1.18–1.57), mold or moisture in the mother’s residence before pregnancy (OR = 1.53, 95% CI: 1.17–2.00), flies or mosquitoes in the dwelling currently (OR = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.10–1.55), pets kept in the child’s current residence (OR = 1.23, 95% CI: 1.01–1.51), presence of pets when the child is 0–1 year old (OR = 1.45, 95% CI: 1.14–1.85), and family history of eczema (OR = 3.53, 95% CI: 2.98–4.19) are risk factors, whereas ethnicity other than Han Chinese (OR = 0.77, 95% CI: 0.61–0.96) is a protective factor, for eczema. Conclusion: Preschool children in Urumqi are at a high risk of eczema, especially those of Han Chinese ethnicity. Parents should pay close attention to the indoor living environment of children and must reduce indoor humidity, pay attention to pest control and elimination, and avoid raising pets to reduce the risk of children developing eczema.