Abstract:
The present study consist of four phases:Phase 1 is a hospital based cross-sectional study
for validation of the western developed CHSA questionnaire. Study population was 100
children who were diagnosed as having .Asthma. It was found that CHSA is a valid and
reliable measure to assess the impact of the Disease amoung the children with childhood
asthma and their caregivers.The Phase 2 of the study was the community based crosssectional study to assess the prevalence of childhood asthma and the factors associated with
the childhood asthma among 1380, 5 - 11 years old children residing in the CMC area The
lifetime prevalence of asthma (ever wheezing) was 22.4 present . the prevalence of
wheezing during past twelve months (period prevalence) was 12.8 present child ever
hadasthma was 7.4 present and exercise induced asthma prevalence was 7.00.10. Eighty
percent of them were diagnosed as having asthma before the age of 4 years. No association
was found between prevalence of asthma among girls boys. Prevalence of asthma was more
(17.6 present) among Sinhalese children compared to other ethnic groups and this difference
was significant (pO.OOI). Childhood asthma was statistically significantly associated with
the f.oll.owing fact.orsChildhood asthma was statistically significantly associated with the
following factors ChildHistory of eczema ( p0.05), exclusive , breast feeding beyond six
months (p0.05), location .of the house near the dusty environment (pOOl), main source .of
fuel as firewood (p"-1.05),place.of sleep(p0.05), the type .of mattress cover (pO.OOl),
burning of mosquito coils (pO.05), birth weight less than 2.5Kg (pO.OOl), family history .of
asthma (pO.OOl) and smoking habits .of the father (pO.OOl) when at home
