Knowledge and Perceptions of Asthma in a Nigerian High School

Abstract

Asthma is a serious global health problem that affects people of all backgrounds and ages with morbidity and mortality higher among older school-age children and early adolescents which causes have been attributed to inadequate knowledge and the wrong perceptions about asthma. The study assessed the level of knowledge and perceptions of asthma; investigated the association of certain demographic characteristics with the level of asthma knowledge and perceptions and determined the correlation between the asthma knowledge and perceptions among secondary school students of Ambassadors College, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. It is a cross- sectional study which used a pre-tested 71- item, purpose designed, self- administered questionnaires to collect information on knowledge and perceptions of the respondents on asthma. Data were collated and analyzed based on descriptive and inferential study design. The result showed that the majority of the respondents had intermediate level of asthma knowledge (68.5%, 285). It also showed that majority of the respondents 63.7% (265) have intermediate level of asthma perceptions. In addition, the result showed significant association between asthma knowledge score and age; and class of the respondents (p <0.05). It also showed a significant association between asthma perceptions scores and age; and class of the students (p <0.05). The results also showed significant correlation between asthma knowledge and perceptions scores of the students (p <0.05). It was, therefore, concluded that the secondary school students of Ambassadors College, IleIfe, Nigeria have intermediate asthma knowledge and perceptions levels. Keywords: Asthma, knowledge, perceptions.