Asthma control and factors associated with control among children attending clinics at a national referral hospital in western Kenya

Abstract

Background: Asthma control is the extent to which the various manifestations of asthma have been reduced or removed by treatment. In developing countries including Kenya, many children continue to visit hospitals with acute symptoms of asthma, which is a pointer to poor control.

Objectives: To determine the level of asthma control and factors associated with the observed control among children at a national referral hospital.

Design: Cross-sectional study

Setting: Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital, Eldoret, Kenya paediatric clinics.

Subjects: A total of 166 asthmatic children aged 6-11 years and their parents/caretakers were enrolled between August 2016 and October 2017.

Main Outcome: Level of control using childhood asthma control test (c-ACT)

Results: The median age of enrolled children was 8.17 years with males being the majority, 94 (56.6%). Using c-ACT, 92 (55.4%, 95%CI: 47.52, 63.10) had well controlled asthma at baseline. At univariate analysis, having a medical insurance cover (p=0.034), dry season (p=0.036), and parental perception of asthma control (p=0.002) were significantly associated with good control of asthma. Acceptance that a child had asthma was associated with poor control of asthma, p=0.046. On multivariate logistic regression, a perception of a well-controlled child by the parent/caretaker correlated well with good control of asthma.

Conclusion: About half of the children in this set up have good control of asthma with the observed status of control being affected by parental/caretaker perception on asthma.