The relationship between asthma and obesity among adolescents aged between 10-19years in Alexandra, Johannesburg

M.A. (Public Health)Abstract: Background: Asthma in children continues to be a common condition, which has shown a growing prevalence in urban and rural populations of South Africa. Childhood overweight and obesity are among the worlds’s greatest serious health issues among school going children in the present world. Aim: The aim of the study was to investigate the relationship between asthma and obesity among adolescents living in Alexandra, Johannesburg. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted at two local clinics; namely Alexandra Community Health Centre and 8th Avenue clinic both located in Alexandra, Johannesburg. The study sample size was 500 adolescent participants (10-19years). The ages were adjusted and calculated to reflect current age in 2021 (13-23years). The data was collected using a data abstraction form and questionnaire administered by study field workers. The data management and analyses were performed using SPSS Version 26 software. The SPSS software was used to establish the strengths of each of the variables of the study, a multivariate binary logistic analysis was conducted to assess the association between the relationships. The results from the logistic regression analysis were presented as odds ratio (OR), adjusted odds ratio (AOR) and corresponding confidence intervals (CI). Results: Overall, 254 (50.8%) out of 500 adolescents had asthma. Among these participants, more female adolescents (51.8%) had asthma in comparison to males, more participants were at secondary school level 349 (69.8%) compared to other groups. Of the adolescents with asthma, 90.4% were from low socio-economic status families. Participants from low socio-economic status were significantly more likely to have asthma in both crude and adjusted odds ratio which were OR=1.26; CI (0.69-2.30) and AOR = 1.34, CI (0.71-2.55). Notably, adolescents aged 20-23years were significantly more likely to have asthma in both crude and adjusted analysis with OR = 1.62, 95% CI (0.98 – 2.68) and AOR =0.77, CI (0.51-1.16). Adolescent participants that had been affected by their weight were significantly highly likely to get asthma for both crude and adjusted odds ratio analysis, OR = 2.58, CI (1.47- 4.54); AOR= 2.66, CI (1.26 – 5.61). Conclusion: This study showed an association between asthma and obesity among adolescents residing in Alexandra, Johannesburg. This study recommends that adolescent programmes should be improved to increase awareness on asthma and obesity. School health..