OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the knowledge that mothers of children with asthma have about the condition and the associated factors METHODS: A survey was performed to identify children with asthma by applying the ISAAC questionnaire (International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood). Mothers answered another questionnaire to collect demographic, socioeconomic, environmental, biological, and behavioral data and to identify factors associated with the management of the disease and the utilization of healthcare services. Meeting three criteria was considered as knowledge: appropriate initial management of an asthma episode, recognition of exacerbation, and recognition of triggering factors. RESULTS: Of the 258 mothers interviewed, 67 (26.0%) were classified as having appropriate knowledge. Adjusted statistical analysis revealed that the following factors were associated with outcome: the child's sex, prematurity, atopic co-morbidities, and availability of medication to manage an episode at home. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that, although mothers reported having received orientation, only one third of them implemented environmental and behavioral changes. Moreover, when meeting three criteria was established as a requirement to define knowledge, this number was even lower among respondents. These findings strengthen the need to focus on educational interventions in knowledge deficiencies, to enable asthmatic children to develop successful self-management attitudes.
Asthma in children; Health education; Self-management; Primary health care; Cross-sectional studies
