The study aimed to assess the association between environmental exposure and asthma among children between 3 and 12 years old in King Williams Town, South Africa. A quantitative case-control study was conducted at Grey Hospital to assess the association between environmental exposure and asthma among children who reside in King Williams Town. Of the total 566 study participants, 50.5% (286) had asthma while 49.5% did not. Socio-demographic factors associated with asthma in children were being within the age group 9-12 years (OR 1.74, CI 95% 1.09-2.78) and India ethnicity (OR 0.20, CI 95% 0.08-0.48). Factors associated with asthma were weight within 25-35 kg (OR 1.64, CI 95% 1.11-2.42) and BMI within 15-20 (OR 4.80, CI 95% 2.80-8.22). Environmental risk factors associated with asthma were indoor exposure to tobacco smoke from mothers of the participants (OR 5.45, CI 95% 3.08-9.65) and from fathers (OR 4.37; CI 95% 2.77-6.90). Abstaining from eating seafood appeared to be protective from developing asthma (OR 0.01; CI 95% 0.00-0.05). The study found no significant association between outdoor environmental exposures and childhood asthma. The age of participant, weight, BMI, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), and eating seafood had significant correlations with childhood asthma. Strengthening the evaluation of children healthcare and encouraging smoking cessation among parents could reduce exposure to environmental asthma triggers among children.
Keywords: asthma; children; environmental exposure; environmental tobacco smoke; pollution.