Factors associated with self-reported diagnosed asthma in urban and rural Malawi: Observations from a population-based study of non-communicable diseases

Abena S Amoah, Estelle McLean, Alison J Price, Alemayehu Amberbir and Amelia C Crampin

PLOS Global Public Health, 2024, vol. 4, issue 7, 1-19

Abstract: The growing burden of asthma in low- and middle-income countries has been linked to urbanisation and lifestyle changes. However, this burden has not been well characterised in adults. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of self-reported diagnosed asthma and associated factors in urban and rural adults in Malawi, Southern Africa. Within a cross-sectional population-based survey to determine the burden and risk factors for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in the city of Lilongwe and rural Karonga district, we collected information on self-reported previously diagnosed asthma and asthma-related symptoms using an interviewer-led questionnaire. Other data collected included: demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status indicators, NCD comorbidities, environmental exposures, and anthropometric measurements. We used multivariable logistic regression models to explore factors associated with self-reported asthma adjusting for variables associated with the outcome in univariable analysis. Findings were corrected for multiple comparisons using the Bonferroni method. We analysed data from 30,483 adult participants (54.6% urban,45.4% rural and 61.9% female). A prior asthma diagnosis was reported in 5.1% of urban and 4.5% of rural participants. In urban females, being obese (>30 kg/m2) compared to normal weight (18.5–24.9 kg/m2) was associated with greater odds of asthma (OR = 1.59, 95% CI [1.26–2.01], p

Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pgph00:0002952

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002952

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