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Risk factors for asthma among primary school children in Baghdad, Iraq

Waqar Al-Kubaisy1, Shatha H Ali, Dawood Al-Thamiri

  • 1Department of Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Al-Nahrain University, Al-Kadhmiya, Baghdad, Iraq.

Saudi Medical Journal
|April 5, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Childhood asthma in Iraq is linked to crowding, low parental education, prematurity, low birth weight, family history of asthma, and environmental tobacco smoke exposure. Addressing these factors can help mitigate childhood asthma prevalence.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Allergy and Immunology
  • Environmental Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Asthma is a prevalent chronic childhood disease globally.
  • There is a significant data gap regarding asthma risk factors in Iraq.
  • Understanding these factors is crucial for public health interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate socio-demographic and environmental risk factors for asthma in Iraqi primary school children.
  • To identify key determinants of asthma occurrence in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study was conducted in Baghdad, Iraq (2000-2002).
  • Included 644 children with asthma and 1618 controls aged 6-12 years.
  • Utilized standardized, modified International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood questionnaires.

Main Results:

  • Significant risk factors identified: crowding (OR=1.65), prematurity (OR=1.61), low birth weight (OR=2.41), parental asthma history (ORs 3.86-8.27), sibling asthma history (OR=4.33), and environmental tobacco smoke exposure.
  • Lower parental educational level was also a significant risk factor.
  • No significant association found for gender, residency, birth type, or breastfeeding.

Conclusions:

  • Crowding, low parental education, prematurity, low birth weight, family history of asthma, and smoking are key risk factors.
  • Interventions should focus on improving hygiene, antenatal care, and smoking cessation.
  • These efforts are vital to reduce the burden of childhood asthma.
Abstract

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