Revista de medicina deportiva y estudios de dopaje

Knowledge, Attitude, Practices and Self-Management of Asthma among Students of Secondary School in Lome during Physical and Sport Activities

Abstract

Akpadi Kouma Tarsiba, Kossi Metowogo , Gafarou-Toure Abdoul Alassane , Yendoube T. Kantati , Mabozou Kpemissi, Kwashie Eklu-Gadegbeku and Kodjo Akikokou

Background: Asthma is the most common disease in school-aged children, and the prevalence rate is increasing every year. In Africa, the prevalence is high in schools and reaches 16.8% among students and more particularly during Physical Activities (PA), where physical exercises contribute to the increase of the frequency of cases of asthma attack. In Togo, the prevalence rate being very high, a survey on the management of this disease could be beneficial.

Objective: This study aims to assess students' knowledge, practices and self-management of asthma during physical activities.

Methods: It was a cross-sectional study, by questionnaire, carried out from February to September 2020 among 40 asthmatics from secondary schools in Lome aged 11 to 18 years. The participants were students who had documentation proving that they had asthma and who had agreed to participate in the study. A questionnaire containing information on adherence with treatment, knowledge of inhalation technique. Data were analysed using IBM SPSS statistics version 19.0 for Windows (SPSS Inc., an IBM Company, and Chicago, IL, USA).

Results: The participation rate was 60.6%. The average age was 14.1 ± 2.2 years, with the extremes of 11 and 18 years. The Sex Ratio (SR) of the participants was 1.22 with a predominance of men in the total number of this survey: 22 men (55%) and 18 women (45%). During an asthma attack, attitudes varied depending on how long the asthma lasted, but the difference is not significant. The majority (62.5%) had a low level of knowledge about their asthma treatment, and 50% had no adherence to treatment. Most of them (50%) ignore inhalation techniques.

Conclusion: There is insufficient knowledge of asthma treatment and treatment adherence among students with asthma in secondary schools in Lome. Awareness is essential.