Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30252916›Full record

ArticlePloS one2018

Allergy-related disorders (ARDs) among Ethiopian primary school-aged children: Prevalence and associated risk factors.

Nezar Mehanna, Nader Mohamed, Moges Wordofa, Dessie Abera, Abiyot Mesfin, Mistire Wolde, Kassu Desta, Aster Tsegaye, Bineyam Taye

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed, 2 pooled it
1.6field-weighted citation impact, top 18% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 14 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Article
  4. Prevalence of allergic rhinitis, related comorbidities and risk factors in schoolchildren.Allergy, asthma, and clinical immunology : official journal of the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology · 2020
    Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors at 2 institutions in 2 countries.

Nezar MehannaDepartment of Biology, Colgate University, Hamilton, New York, United States of America.
Nader MohamedDepartment of Biology, Colgate University, Hamilton, New York, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0001-9877-5717
Moges WordofaDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Dessie AberaDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Abiyot MesfinDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Mistire WoldeDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Kassu DestaDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Aster TsegayeDepartment of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Bineyam TayeDepartment of Biology, Colgate University, Hamilton, New York, United States of America.ORCID 0000-0002-5583-9941
Addis Ababa University · ETColgate University · US

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThere has been a noticeable increase in the prevalence of allergy-related disorders (ARDs) in the modern era. Urbanization is believed to be a major environmental risk factor for the onset of ARDs but data from low- to middle-income countries is limited.

objectiveOur purpose was to assess the prevalence of ARDs and atopy among a population of rural Ethiopian school children and identify environmental and lifestyle factors associated with such disorders.

methodsWe performed a cross-sectional study on 541 school-children. An interviewer-led questionnaire administered to the mothers of each participant provided information on demographic and lifestyle variables. Questions on allergic disease symptoms were based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Children (ISAAC) core allergy and environmental questionnaire. Skin prick test for common allergens German cockroach (Blattella germanica) and dust mite (Dermatophagoides) was performed to define atopy. Multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the odds ratio between ARDs and atopy with specific environmental and lifestyle habits.

results541 children responded to the survey questions: the majority of participants were female (60.3%) and aged 10-15 years-old. The prevalence of any ARD was 27%, while the rates of ever-having eczema, rhinitis, and wheeze was found to be 16.8%, 9.6%, and 8.6% respectively. Only 3.6% (19 school-children) tested positive for any skin sensitization. Analysis of associated factors for ARDs found that a family history of allergic disorders (AOR: 2.80; p-value<0.01), use of insecticides (AOR: 2.05; p-value<0.01), and wearing open-toed shoes (AOR: 2.19; p-value = 0.02) were all significantly associated factors. Insecticide use, river-bathing, and infection with intestinal parasites were found to be significantly associated factors for atopy. Other potential risk factors such as frequent use of soap, bacterial infection, and household crowding had no statistical significance.

conclusionOur study suggests that the prevalence of skin sensitization and ARDs in rural populations of developing countries is still relatively low. We identified several possible risk factors for further investigation. Overall, the significance of identified risk factors appears to indicate that genetic predisposition and exposure to environmental pollution are more important to the etiology of ARDs and atopy than specific lifestyle behaviors.

Indexed as

AdolescentAsthmaChildChild, PreschoolCross-Sectional StudiesDeveloping CountriesEczemaEnvironmental ExposureEthiopiaFecesFemaleGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseHumansHypersensitivityHypersensitivity, ImmediateMale

Identifiers

PMID30252916
PMCPMC6155548
OpenAlexW2893916157

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.