The characteristics, knowledge, beliefs and practices of parent/guardians of children with asthma in Accra, Ghana

Abstract

All over the world the morbidity and mortality from asthma is increasing. Though the reason for this trend is not dear, most studies have shown that the failure of patients, parents, carers and health personnel to recognize the severity of asthma attacks, delay in seeking medical help and the subsequent delay in initiating treatment are major contributing factors. Education of parents of children with asthma is an essential step to reduce this trend in asthma. In order to formulate an appropriate and locally relevant health education programme in Ghana, a prospective study was conducted to determine the characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and practices of parents/guardians of children with asthma presenting to the Department of Child Health, Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), Accra, Ghana. Person to person interview using a pre-tested questionnaire was administered to parents/guardians of children with asthma. A total of 69 patients were recruited. Sixty-one (97.1%) fathers and 66(98.6%) mothers had attained at least primary level occupations. Questions assessing the respondents' knowledge about the cause and natural history of asthma were correctly answered by 56. 1% to 91.2% of the respondents. The level of education of the parents/guardians did not influence the number of correct answers. Breathlessness was the commonest symptom (95.5%) attributed to asthma while cough was regarded as the commonest first sign (68.3%) of exacerbation of asthma. Seventy-seven percent of parents/guardians would give a bronchodilator and/or consult a doctor when their child develops breathlessness. Only 2 1.5% and 7.7% would give a bronchodilator or consult a doctor. respectively for cough. It was concluded that parents/guardians of children with asthma were quite knowledgeable about asthma but their recognition of acute asthma was poor and they did not take appropriate action at the onset of exacerbations. On the basis of these results recommendations were made to improve the health education of parents/guardians