[01] AlBehandy N. S., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affairs Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [02] Hussein H., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affairs Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [03] Al Faisal W., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affairs Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [04] El Sawaf E., Staff Development, Health Centers Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [05] Wasfy A., Statistics and Research Department, Ministry of Health, Dubai, UAE. [06] Alshareef N., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affairs Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE. [07] Altheeb A. A. S., School and Educational Institutions Health Unit, Health Affairs Department, Primary Health Care Services Sector, Dubai Health Authority, Dubai, UAE.

Background: Asthma is a large and growing threat to children’s health and well-being. It affects 5-10% of the population or an estimated 23.4 million persons, including 7 million children in U.S. Asthma is the most common chronic disease of childhood. Almost 1 in 8 school-aged children are affected by asthma, and 10% of children (compared with 5% of adults) take medication for it. Objectives: Studying Risk factors for childhood asthma in Dubai, UAE Methodology: A cross-sectional study conducted among multistage stratified randomly selected students sample in preparatory and secondary schools “Governmental and Private” in Dubai, U.A.E, The total sample size reached 1639 students. Results: parental education, crowding index and number of windows per room. It can be noted that as regards father education the highest prevalence of asthma was seen among students whose fathers were of lower education (illiterate 26.7%) as compared to those whose fathers were of university education (15.3%) with the exception of those in preparatory school (14.3%). Students whose fathers were secondary educated had a significant risk of 1.4 times more than those whose fathers were university educated and 2.1 times higher for those whose fathers were illiterate than those whose fathers were university educated. The prevalence of persistent asthma among asthmatic students was higher among the older age groups (31.3%, 26.3% and 53.8% in students of 13-<15, 15-<17 and 17+ years of age respectively) compared to those of <13 years of age (15.9%). A significant elevated risk was found among students in the 13-<15 years of age group (OR=2.4) and those of 17+ years of age group (OR=6.2). Sex, nationality and type of school revealed no statistical significant relation with severity of asthma. Conclusion: There are many risk factors playing significant role in diseases prevalence and diseases severity and clinical presentation, which needs to be well addressed to be able to modified as a part of diseases management protocol. Recommendations: Working at risk factor manipulation level through setting up long term preventive and intervention community and family based programs to modify asthma prevalence and clinical presentations.

Childhood Asthma, Risk Factors, Dubai

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