ASTHMA IN NIGERIAN CHILDREN: EXAMINING HEALTHCARE GAPS AND CONTROL CHALLENGES

Abstract

Asthma remains a major global health concern, particularly among children and adolescents, where it contributes significantly to morbidity and mortality. In Nigeria, asthma affects between 5.1% and 14.3% of children, with prevalence rates in the general population ranging from 14% to 18%. Older school-age children and early adolescents are especially vulnerable to asthma-related complications. As a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways, asthma impairs overall well-being and limits daily functioning. Despite notable advancements in asthma diagnosis and treatment over the past two decades, management in Nigerian children remains a challenge. This article examines the social determinants that influence asthma prevalence and outcomes in children, including neighborhood conditions, poverty, psychosocial stress, and environmental exposures. Additionally, it explores barriers to effective management such as limited healthcare access, underdiagnosis, poor health-seeking behaviors, and medication availability. The study emphasizes the need for targeted interventions addressing both medical and social dimensions of childhood asthma to reduce its burden in Nigeria