Prevalence of asthma-like symptoms by ISAAC video questionnaire in Mozambican schoolchildren

Abstract

Background. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) video questionnaire was developed to overcome the language and cultural differences in the assessment of asthma-like symptoms. Methods. 27 schools were included in the Maputo Asthma and Allergies in childhood Study (MAPAAS) using ISAAC methods, and a video questionnaire (VQ) was administered to 1614 adolescents 13-14 years old of 20 schools located in urban, suburban and semi-rural areas of Maputo (Mozambique). Simultaneously, they also replied to the ISAAC written questionnaire (WQ). Results. According to the video questionnaire, the prevalence of current asthma was 11.9% (compared with 13.3% using the written questionnaire). Wheezing after exercise in the last year was reported by about 21%. Females reported more frequent wheezing after exercise than males (p