Abstract
Paediatric bronchial asthma causes respiratory related mortality and morbidity globally and elevates the risk of psychological and social problems (psychosocial problems); which may result in poorer asthma control. The rate of and associated factors for psychosocial problems among our asthmatic children was assessed in this study. Seventy five (75) children aged 7 to 14 years with bronchial asthma who were attending clinics at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria, were assessed with Child behaviour questionnaire and a semi-structured questionnaire. Probable psychological morbidity was present in 25% of the children. The most frequently reported social impairments associated with the disease were: interference with play (60%), domestic work (49%), fear of dying anytime (29%) and feeling of being a burden on the family (25%). Psychological morbidity was significantly associated with lower maternal education (p=0.020) and occupation (p=0.038), polygamy (p=0.012), fathers having more than 5 children (p=0.027) and mothers having inadequate spousal support (p=0.012). Inadequate spousal support and lower maternal occupational level were the significant predictors of morbidity following logistic regression. Routine psychosocial assessment and care for children with asthma needs to be introduced into our clinics to help protect them and their families from avoidable suffering.
Highlights
Bronchial asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that results from the effects of three main pathological processes namely airway obstruction, airway inflammation and bronchial hyper-responsiveness.[1]
Location and background of study: University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) is located in Ilorin, Kwara state, North-central Nigeria; it is a major point of specialist care for this state and 5 adjoining others
The inclusion criteria included the following: Child must have been diagnosed with bronchial asthma by a consultant physician at the clinic at least one year before the study; Child must have had no asthma attacks in the preceding 2 months of the study;; Child must not have a positive history of any other chronic medical conditions this was to remove the effect of co-morbidity which would have made results interpretation difficult, these conditions were eliminated if there was a negative history
Summary
Bronchial asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that results from the effects of three main pathological processes namely airway obstruction, airway inflammation and bronchial hyper-responsiveness.[1]. Paediatric bronchial asthma causes respiratory related mortality and morbidity globally and elevates the risk of psychological and social problems (psychosocial problems); which may result in poorer asthma control. Psychological morbidity was significantly associated with lower maternal education (p=0.020) and occupation (p=0.038), polygamy (p=0.012), fathers having more than 5 children (p=0.027) and mothers having inadequate spousal support (p=0.012). Conclusion: Routine psychosocial assessment and care for children with asthma needs to be introduced into our clinics to help protect them and their families from avoidable suffering
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