Asthma knowledge and health-promoting behaviours among schoolchildren in Oman: a cross-sectional study

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OBJECTIVE: Asthma affects an estimated 6.1 million children worldwide and is associated with impaired quality of life and substantial morbidity and mortality. This study assessed asthma-related knowledge and health promotion behaviours among schoolchildren with bronchial asthma in Oman, examined the relationship between knowledge and health-promotion behaviours. METHODS: A cross-sectional exploratory study was conducted between November 2021 and December 2022 in Muscat, North Al Batinah and Al Dhakiliya governorates, Oman. Data were collected using a demographic questionnaire, a Knowledge Questionnaire and a Health-Promoting Behaviour Scale. The sample included schoolchildren aged 10–15 years with a diagnosis of bronchial asthma, enrolled in public schools in Muscat, North Al Batinah and Al Dhakiliya governorates. Associations were assessed using Spearman’s correlation; group differences using Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests. Variables with p < 0.25 were included in a generalized linear model. RESULTS: Among 388 schoolchildren, mean asthma knowledge was 13.71 ± 2.56/24 and mean health-promoting behaviour (HPB) score was 47.78 ± 4.33/66. Most children had average asthma knowledge (n = 275, 70.9%), while 64 (16.5%) had poor knowledge and 49 (12.6%) had good knowledge. Most children had average HPB (n = 313, 80.7%), with 65 (16.8%) classified as poor and 10 (2.6%) classified as good. Knowledge correlated positively with HPB in crude analysis (Spearman’s r = 0.146; p = 0.004) but was not independently associated in the multivariable model (β = 0.118; p = 0.191). Higher HPB scores were independently associated with rural residence (β = 1.379; p = 0.025) and living in owned housing β = 1.629; p = 0.006). CONCLUSION: This study found that schoolchildren with bronchial asthma in Oman had mostly average asthma knowledge and health-promoting behaviours. Although knowledge correlated with health-promoting behaviours in crude analysis, it was not an independent predictor after adjustment. Rural residence and living in owned housing were associated with higher health-promoting behaviour scores. These findings support the need for structured, regular, child- and caregiver-focused education and standardised asthma care pathways to strengthen self-management and improve quality of life.

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