Control of Asthma and its Influencing Factors in Children Followed in Pneumo-pediatrics Consultation at the Mother-child Hospital in the City of Marrakech, Morocco.

Abstract

Introduction: Evaluate asthma control and determine its influencing factors to ensure adequate management and improve the quality of life for asthmatic children.

Method: A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted over a two-month period, from 02/11/2022 to 01/01/2023, at the pneumo-pediatric consultation at the MCH. The target population was asthmatic children aged 4 to 11 and their parents. The Arabic version of the C-ACT and PMAQ-3W were used to assess asthma control and medication compliance, respectively.Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS, using descriptive and correlational analysis (bivariate and multivariate).

Results: 203 asthmatic children were included in the study, out of which 60.6% were male, with a mean age of 6 years. Asthma was uncontrolled in 53% of children. Factors associated with uncontrolled asthma were rural residence, low parental education, low monthly family income, lack of awareness of triggers, presence of conjunctivitis or allergic rhinitis, occurrence of respiratory infections, parental history of asthma, exposure to smoking, and non-compliance with treatment.

Conclusion: 53% of children had uncontrolled asthma. A range of predictive factors were significantly associated with suboptimal asthma control. Recommended actions to improve childhood asthma control include education on trigger prevention and medication compliance, treatment of comorbidities, and accessibility of care for all socio-economic classes.