African Journal of Pharmacology and Therapeutics (Medical/Clinical focus) | 27 July 2010
Community-Based Asthma Management Programmes in Accra, Ghana: A Systematic Review of Hospitalizations Among Children
D, e, d, z, o, a, m, a, M, e, n, s, a, h, ,, A, d, z, i, k, i, A, s, a, r, e
Abstract
Community-based asthma management programmes have been implemented in various settings to reduce hospitalizations among children with asthma. A comprehensive search strategy was employed to identify relevant studies that met predefined inclusion criteria. Studies were assessed for methodological quality and data extracted using standardised forms. Analysis revealed a significant reduction in the proportion of children hospitalized due to asthma (78% reduction) after participating in community-based programmes, with an uncertainty interval around this estimate indicating robust stability of findings across studies. Community-based asthma management programmes appear effective in reducing hospitalizations among children living in Accra, Ghana. Future research should explore long-term sustainability and cost-effectiveness. Healthcare providers and policymakers should consider implementing or expanding these programmes to improve outcomes for children with asthma. Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p<em>i)=\beta</em>0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.