WORLD JOURNAL OF ADVANCE
HEALTHCARE RESEARCH

*Baidaa Abdul Hussein Jasim, Angam Tarek Hussein, Doaa Oday Hatem and Hussein Fadhil Aljawadi

ABSTRACT

Background: Asthma is one of the most common chronic diseases in children, posing a significant burden on families and society. Its prevalence has sharply increased over the past 30 years with notable geographical variations. This study aimed to investigate sociodemographic and other risk factors associated with asthma in children attending the asthma clinic at Misan Child and Maternity Hospital, Amara City, Iraq. Objective: To identify the sociodemographic characteristics and risk factors of asthma among children under 14 years diagnosed with bronchial asthma. Method: A cross-sectional retrospective study was conducted on 200 children diagnosed with asthma based on history and physical examination. Data collection occurred over six months, from September 2019 to March 2020, using a specially designed questionnaire filled through direct caregiver interviews. Results: Asthma was most frequent in the 2–6 years age group (34.5%) and predominantly affected males (67%). Although males had higher exposure to asthma risk factors, the gender difference was not statistically significant concerning symptom presentation or severity. Urban residents accounted for 90.5% of cases, compared to 9.5% in rural areas, yet no significant association was found between residence and asthma occurrence. Common risk factors included a family history of asthma or allergies (e.g., allergic rhinitis, eczema, or food allergy), male gender, and environmental tobacco smoke exposure. Conclusion: Asthma is a significant public health issue among Iraqi children. The highest frequency was observed in the 2–6 years age group, with males and urban residents being more affected. Addressing family history and environmental factors could mitigate the burden of asthma.