Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41225495›Full record

ArticleBMC pediatrics2025

Prevalence and determinants of uncontrolled asthma among secondary school-going adolescents in Kampala City, Uganda: findings from a cross-sectional study.

James Davis Katumba, Bruce Kirenga, Florence Nanteza, Ruth Mpirirwe, Alex Mwesigwa, Anthony Muwagga Mugagga, Joan N Kalyango, Charles Karamagi, Rebecca Nantanda

Abstract read
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Article in BMC pediatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

James Davis KatumbaClinical Epidemiology Unit, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda. james.katumba@students.mak.ac.ug.
Bruce KirengaLung Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Florence NantezaUganda Cancer Institute, Kampala, Uganda.
Ruth MpirirweClinical Epidemiology Unit, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Alex MwesigwaClinical Epidemiology Unit, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Anthony Muwagga MugaggaCollege of Education and External Studies, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Joan N KalyangoClinical Epidemiology Unit, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Charles KaramagiClinical Epidemiology Unit, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, P O Box 7072, Kampala, Uganda.
Rebecca NantandaLung Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe Uganda Ministry of Health Sector Performance Report 2022 highlights a salient increase in non-communicable, genetic and environmentally engineered diseases such as asthma among Ugandans, mostly the children. Much of the effort towards controlling asthma is geared towards early and middle childhood when asthma is more frequent. Adolescents in school, face a high risk of poor asthma control due to limited health care access, inadequate school support, and low adherence to treatment. However, uncontrolled asthma among adolescents aged 12–19 years in Kampala is under studied. This study investigated the prevalence and determinants of uncontrolled asthma among adolescents in selected secondary schools in Kampala City, Uganda.

methodsThis cross-sectional study involved 263 secondary school adolescents who had a documented history of asthma in Kampala city, Uganda. The participants provided written informed consent or assent with parental/legal guardian consent. Multistage sampling was done to select the participating secondary schools and adolescents with asthma. Data were collected using self-administered questionnaires based on the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) and the Asthma Control Test (ACT). Asthma control was categorized as well controlled (ACT ≥ 20) or not well controlled (“Uncontrolled”, ACT ≤ 19). Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses were performed, followed by multivariate mixed-effects logistic regression models to account for clustering of participants within schools and identify determinants of uncontrolled asthma.

resultsThe study found poor asthma control in 81.8% of the enrolled adolescents. The environmental determinants influenced asthma control; adolescents exposed to moulds were four times more likely to have uncontrolled asthma (AOR = 3.84, 95% CI: 1.02, 14.46; p = 0.047), and reliance on public transport significantly increased the odds of having uncontrolled asthma (AOR = 5.75, 95% CI: 1.38, 24.05; p = 0.016).

conclusionSelf-reported uncontrolled asthma was observed among secondary school adolescents with a documented history of asthma in Kampala. Environmental factors, such as reliance on public transport and household mould exposure, significantly contributed to poor asthma control. To address these, efforts should focus on reducing exposure through improved home ventilation and mould control, promoting safer and less polluted commuting options for students, and enhancing school-based asthma management. We recommend regular asthma screening, teacher training, and better access to care in schools to enhance its early detection and control.

Indexed as

AsthmaAdolescentChildCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansMalePrevalenceRisk FactorsSchoolsSurveys and QuestionnairesUgandaAdolescentsKampalaUncontrolled asthma

Identifiers

PMID41225495
PMCPMC12613562

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