Risk factors for asthma among schoolchildren who participated in a case-control study in urban Uganda

Data on asthma aetiology in Africa are scarce. We investigated the risk factors for asthma among schoolchildren (5-17years) in urban Uganda. We conducted a case-control study, enrolling 561 cases and 1,139 controls. Asthma was diagnosed by study clinicians. The main risk factors for asthma were tertiary education for fathers [adjusted OR (95% CI); 2.49 (1.89-3.29)] and mothers [2.14 (1.64-2.78)]; area of residence at birth, with children born in a small town or in the city having an increased asthma risk compared to schoolchildren born in rural areas [2.00 (1.49-2.68)] and [2.82 (1.85-4.30)], respectively; father’s and mother’s history of asthma; children’s own allergic conditions; atopy; and using gas/electricity for indoor cooking. Asthma was associated with a strong rural-town-city risk gradient, higher parental socio-economic status and urbanicity. This work provides the basis for future studies to identify specific environmental/lifestyle factors responsible for increasing asthma risk among children in urban areas in LMICs.