Prevalence of asthma and respiratory symptoms during pregnancy in the middle belt of Nigeria

AbstractBackground: Information about the burden of asthma during pregnancy in Africa is scarce.Objectives: To determine the prevalence of asthma and respiratory symptoms in pregnancy in Ilorin, Nigeria.Methods: This study uses the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) questionnaire and definitions to screen 870 pregnant women attending three hospitals for asthma.Results: The prevalence of possible asthma (i.e. awakened by shortness of breath, asthma attack(s) in the last 12 months, or currently taking asthma medication) was 2.1% (95% CI: 1.3–3.1%), physician-diagnosed asthma was 1.0% (95% CI: 0.5–1.7%), and current asthma (asthma attack in the last 12 months and currently taking asthma medication) was 0.7% (95% CI: 0.2–1.3%). The prevalence of respiratory symptoms ranged from 0.6% (95% CI: 0.1–1.1%) for wheezing without cold to 12.9% (95% CI: 10.7–15.2%) for nasal allergies. Less than 1% reported an asthma attack and using asthma medication in the last 12 months. None of the pregnant women...