Comparison of Asthma among Adolescents in Urban and Rural Areas of Kaduna State, Northwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Background: There has been rising prevalence of asthma worldwide. One of the causes noted for this is increase in urbanization and westernization of diet. This has therefore reflected on varying prevalence documented within the urban and rural settings even in the same geographical regions worldwide especially among children and few reports among adolescents.
Methods: Using stratified random sampling, 320 participants were selected from two areas designated urban and rural. A modified ISAAC study Asthma questionnaire was administered to them after which a physical examination and best of 3 attempts pre-exercise peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) were done. They were subjected to 6-minutes run and post- exercise PEFR were done and a drop of 15% or more was considered as exercise induced bronchospasm. Statistical analysis was done using EPI INFO 2002.
Results: Prevalence of current asthma symptoms or wheezing in the past 12 months was 10.6% and 6.3% in the urban and rural population respectively with an overall prevalence of 8.5% and a positive history of atopy in the participants and their families was seen to be a risk factor for asthma in the participants in both the urban [RR=2.47 (1.0-6.05)] and rural [RR=4.48 (2.35-8.54)] areas. Using EIB, the prevalence of asthma was 15% and 5.6% in the urban and rural population respectively (p < 0.000) with and overall prevalence of 10.3%.
Conclusion: There was significant increase in the prevalence of asthma as compared to earlier reported and a significant difference between the urban and rural adolescents in this region.