Table 3.
Respiratory and related outcomes for participating children as reported by caregivers
| Schools in the south | Average schools | Schools in the north | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand total | Nizam | Enthu | Assegai | Dirkie Uys | South | North | Briardale | Ferndale | Ngazana | |
| Range of Ns across the variables presented | 246 – 313 | 40 – 48 | 18 – 32 | 25 – 36 | 12 – 19 | 41 – 61 | 44 – 63 | 46 – 54 | ||
| Doctor-diagnosed asthma, % | 14.8 | 12.8 | 15.6 | 5.6 | 21.1 | 13.0 | 16.5 | 18.6 | 23.3 | 5.6 |
| Among children diagnosed with asthma (N=45) | ||||||||||
| Age of child (years) when first diagnosed with asthma, % | ||||||||||
| <2 | 39.8 | - | - | 100.0 | - | 31.5 | 47.2 | 18.2 | 55.6 | 66.7 |
| 2 – 5 | 35.0 | 100.0 | 50.0 | - | 33.3 | 43.6 | 27.1 | 27.3 | 22.2 | 33.3 |
| >5 | 25.3 | - | 50.0 | - | 66.7 | 24.9 | 25.6 | 54.6 | 22.2 | - |
| Current asthma, % | 62.9 | 60.0 | 100.0 | 50.0 | 75.0 | 67.8 | 58.6 | 75.0 | 38.9 | 66.7 |
| Ever treated for asthma, % | 89.3 | 100.0 | 80.0 | 100.0 | 75.0 | 90.4 | 88.3 | 91.7 | 76.5 | 100.0 |
| Doctor-diagnosed chronic bronchitis, % | 4.1 | 6.8 | - | - | 10.5 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 8.5 | 3.4 | - |
| Doctor-diagnosed hayfever, % | 11.5 | 11.1 | 3.1 | 2.9 | 26.3 | 10.6 | 12.4 | 18.6 | 17.0 | - |
| Chronic cough, % | 5.2 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 2.8 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 5.5 | 8.2 | 4.8 | 3.7 |
| Chronic phlegm, % | 3.0 | - | - | - | 10.5 | 2.5 | 3.5 | 1.6 | 6.4 | 1.9 |
| Symptom-based chronic bronchitis, % | 1.5 | - | - | - | 5.3 | 1.2 | 1.8 | - | 3.2 | 1.9 |
| Ever had ear infection, % | 37.1 | 38.1 | 26.3 | 22.6 | 62.5 | 36.8 | 37.4 | 45.5 | 30.2 | 38.2 |
| Ever sound wheezy, % | 24.5 | 19.2 | 56.3 | 2.9 | 31.6 | 23.8 | 25.2 | 25.4 | 23.0 | 27.8 |
| Among those who ever sound wheezy (N=78) | ||||||||||
| Ever had an attack of wheezing with SOB, % | 41.5 | 55.6 | 17.6 | - | 100.0 | 41.5 | 47.9 | 64.3 | 46.1 | 33.3 |
| Stuffy, itchy, runny nose during past 12 months, % | 41.5 | 42.6 | 28.1 | 28.6 | 68.4 | 41.5 | 46.4 | 59.3 | 41.7 | 38.9 |
| Watery, itchy eyes during past 12 months, % | 28.1 | 36.2 | 18.8 | 22.9 | 33.3 | 28.1 | 30.1 | 33.9 | 28.8 | 27.8 |
| Among those reporting attack of wheezing with SOB (N=32) | ||||||||||
| Age (years) at first wheezing attack, mean (±SD) | 6.5 (3.5) | 4.8 (2.7) | 3.6 (3.7) | - | 8.0 (1.6) | 3.5 | 6.8 | 8.4 (4.1) | 7.6 (2.8) | 4.2 (2.3) |
| ≥2 such episodes, % | 57.9 | 60.0 | 100.0 | - | 100.0 | 57.9 | 73.3 | 77.8 | 80.0 | 60.0 |
| Required treatment for attacks, % | 50.6 | 100.0 | 66.7 | - | 50.0 | 50.6 | 96.5 | 88.9 | 100.0 | 100.0 |
| Breathing normal between attacks, % | 47.3 | 20.0 | 100.0 | - | 100.0 | 47.3 | 38.7 | 22.2 | 66.7 | 20.0 |
SOB = shortness of breath.