Abstract

Background and Aims:
Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease affecting millions of children, causing significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite its prevalence, asthma remains poorly understood, with misconceptions and stigma leading to delayed diagnosis, inadequate treatment, and poor adherence to medication. This study aims to investigate the general population’s knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward pediatric asthma, with a focus on identifying areas for education and awareness to improve asthma management and outcomes.

Methods:
This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Medina, Saudi Arabia, between June 2023 and October 2023. The study targeted the general population residing in Medina, encompassing individuals of all sexes and nationalities, as well as caregivers of children under 18 years with asthma. A self-administered questionnaire was used for data collection, and the data were analyzed using SPSS (version 23).

Results:
A total of 619 participants were included. A majority of participants (92.4%) demonstrated a good understanding of asthma as a chronic condition with acute exacerbations triggered by allergens. Participants with a family history of bronchial asthma and those who suffered from bronchial asthma themselves had significantly higher knowledge scores (p=0.001, p=0.003, respectively). Additionally, participants living at home with a child who suffers from asthma had a statistically higher knowledge score (p = 0.005). The study also found that older participants and those with a university education had higher knowledge scores (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion:
Our study reveals that a significant proportion of participants possess a moderate level of knowledge about pediatric asthma, with a strong correlation between age, educational level, and knowledge level.

Key words: Asthma, Pediatrics, Knowledge, Attitude, Perception, Madina, Medina, Saudi Arabia