Knowledge and perception about asthma in a Nigerian university community

Abstract

Background: Asthma, a global health issue, affffects people of all ages and backgrounds. There are some misconceptions about asthma. This study assessed the knowledge and perception about asthma in a Nigerian university community. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among students in University of Nigeria Nsukka on WAD 2021. A self-administered structured questionnaire was fifilled by conveniently sampled students in a strategic location on campus. Inferential statistics utilized the Pearson's Chi-Square test and multiple linear regression with P< 0.05 of statistical signifificance. Results: One hundred and fififty-eight (158) students participated in the study. Majority of the participants were between the ages of 18 to 23 years (n = 128; 81.0%), in their fifirst or second year of university (n = 106; 77.1%), and in Social Sciences or Arts (n = 147; 93.0%). Less than a tenth of the participants had been previously diagnosed of asthma (n = 12; 7.6%). Close to a quarter of them had a family history of asthma (n = 37, 23.4%). The awareness about asthma was high (n = 155; 98.1%). Less than half of the participants had good knowledge of asthma (n = 52; 32.9%) and positive perception of asthma (n = 76; 48.1%). Conclusion: Majority of the students had high awareness about asthma but with poor knowledge of the disease. In addition, less than half of the participants had positive perceptions about asthma. These necessitate the need for health education on asthma.