Socio-Demographic and Environmental Factors in Children with Asthma: A Cross-Sectional Study from Southwestern Iran

Abstract

Background: Most children with asthma start to have symptoms in early life; socio-demographic and environmental factors can play an important role in the development and clinical expression of asthma. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine risk factors in children with asthma from southwestern Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study included children with asthma, aged five to 15 years, who frequently referred to the allergy outpatient clinics affiliated to Shiraz University of Medical Sciences during year 2016. Information about the participants’ demographic characteristics and social and environmental factors was collected using a questionnaire during year 2016. Results: A total of 737 children (494 males and 243 females) with asthma with mean age of 8.1 ± 2.7 years were recruited. Various factors, including male gender, low birth weight, being the first child, low number of siblings, no vaccination against influenza, adenoidectomy, and young age of mother were found to be associated with an increased risk of asthma during childhood. About 50% of children ate little fish and drank too much cola in a week. Conclusions: The current study showed that influenza vaccination and consumption of fish should be encouraged; also, the rate of adenoidectomy was high in asthmatic patients. The results of this study can help plan strategies for preventing asthma.