Simba Justus, Marete Irene, Waihenya Rebecca, Kombe Yeri, Mwangi Ann, Mburugu Patrick, Ogaro Francis
Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology, Child Health and Paediatrics.
Moi University School of Medicine, Child Health and Paediatrics.
Afr Health Sci. 2018 Dec;18(4):965-971. doi: 10.4314/ahs.v18i4.16.
Identifying knowledge gaps in asthma self-management and identifying existing myths is an important step in determining appropriate health education and demystifying the myths so as to enhance asthma control.
To identify existing knowledge gaps and perceptions among the caregivers of asthmatic children.
A cross sectional study was done among caretakers of asthmatic children aged 6-11 years at Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital. Data on knowledge and perceptions among caretakers was collected using a questionnaire.
A total of 116 caretakers were recruited of whom 71.6% were mothers. Although 60% of the caretakers had asthma medications at home, only a third felt their children were asthmatic. Eighty four (72.4%) had basic asthma knowledge. Syrups were preferred to inhalers by 70.7%, with 64.7% believing that inhalers were for the very sick. Only 36 (31%) felt preventer medications in asthma were necessary. Acceptance of asthma as a diagnosis and presence of asthma drugs were significantly associated with better knowledge of asthma, p-values 0.015 and 0.009 respectively.
Most caregivers perceive syrups to be better despite having good basic knowledge on asthma. There is need to address asthma perceptions among caretakers in resource poor settings which is likely to improve control.
识别哮喘自我管理方面的知识差距以及现存的误区，是确定适当的健康教育内容并消除这些误区以加强哮喘控制的重要一步。
识别哮喘患儿照顾者现有的知识差距和认知情况。
在莫伊教学与转诊医院对6至11岁哮喘患儿的照顾者开展了一项横断面研究。使用问卷收集照顾者的知识和认知数据。
共招募了116名照顾者，其中71.6%为母亲。尽管60%的照顾者家中备有哮喘药物，但只有三分之一的人认为自己的孩子患有哮喘。84名（72.4%）照顾者具备基本的哮喘知识。70.7%的人更喜欢糖浆而非吸入器，64.7%的人认为吸入器是给病重患者用的。只有36名（31%）照顾者认为哮喘预防性药物是必要的。将哮喘视为一种诊断以及家中有哮喘药物，与对哮喘有更好的了解显著相关，p值分别为0.015和0.009。
尽管大多数照顾者对哮喘有一定的基本知识，但他们大多认为糖浆更好。在资源匮乏地区，需要解决照顾者对哮喘的认知问题，这可能会改善哮喘控制情况。
