METHODOLOGY
It was a cross sectional study done in 815 children (5-15 yrs.), from
two urban schools (English medium and Marathi medium each).
Questionnaire - adopted from International Study of Asthma and Allergy
in Childhood (ISAAC). It contains 11 questions pertaining to the
diagnosis and risk factors of asthma. This questionnaire was adapted
from ISAAC phase 1 and phase 2 with slight modification (questions
indicating severity of asthma were excluded) and were printed in both
English and Marathi. The Marathi questionnaire was a pre validated
translation. Questions were answered as either Yes or No. After
permission from school authority, and clearance from local ethics
committee, questionnaires were distributed to 1718 children. Explanation
of each question was provided in the form. Questionnaire was to be
answered by parents. After 2 reminders, 815 children returned the form
(47.43%). Questionnaires were analysed and 62 out of 815 who answered
yes for any question in section B were shortlisted as probable asthmatic
and were evaluated at a tertiary teaching hospital in Pune. Detailed
history and examination, PEFR was done. Out of these 62 children, 50
children were found to be asthmatic and they were included in the study
and analysed. Asthma in this population was defined as per the ISAAC
study criteria . Data was collected ,compiled which then evaluated using
Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software. Chi square, p
test were used for determining statistical significance.