Knowledge of Asthma among Teachers in Public Primary Schools in a Resource-Limited Country

E. E. Ekop

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Asthma is a major cause of school
absenteeism among children. It is therefore important that
teachers have a good knowledge about asthma in order to help
prevent and manage asthma attacks in children at school.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the knowledge of asthma and the
factors associated with the knowledge level among teachers in
public primary schools in Abuja, Nigeria.

SUBJECTS, MATERIALS AND METHODS: A descriptive
cross-sectional study carried out among teachers in 24 public
primary schools using multi-stage sampling method. The
questionnaires were self-administered and level of knowledge
was assessed as good, fair and poor.

RESULTS: Four hundred and three teachers participated in
the study. Thirteen (3.2%) and 16 (15.1%) had a diagnosis and
family history of asthma respectively, while 175 (43.4%) knew a
person who had asthma. Majority, 370 (91.8%) had no formal
training on asthma. The responses were mainly correct to
questions about asthma symptoms such as chest discomfort
298 (73.9%) and asthma triggers such as dust 349 (86.6%), and
mainly incorrect to questions about comorbidities like itchy
skin 42 (10.4%), use of antibiotics for symptom relief 165 (40.9%)
and pupil engagement in exercise and sports 279 (69.2%). Only
90 (22.3%) had good knowledge of asthma. An association was
seen between mean age (p =0.0007), mean duration of teaching
(p =0.32) and level of asthma knowledge.

CONCLUSION: Teachers play an important role in the
management of asthma in school children. They therefore need
to be empowered to provide adequate asthma care especially
with willingness to acquire such knowledge. WAJM 2022;
39(3): 262–268.

Keywords: Teachers, knowledge, asthma, pupils, schools.