Objective:

To estimate the prevalence of current asthma and associated factors among 6- and 7-year-old children on Santiago Island, Cabo Verde, addressing the significant data gap in this region.

Key Findings:

• Prevalence of current asthma was 10.5% (95% CI 8.7–12.4), indicating a significant health concern.
• Only 5% of children had a physician diagnosis of asthma, highlighting under-diagnosis.
• Boys were more affected than girls (12.6% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.034), suggesting gender disparities in asthma prevalence.
• Prevalence of rhinitis and eczema was 20.1% and 12.2%, respectively, with 59% and 18% of asthmatic children affected.
• Current rhinitis (aOR: 7.86) and antibiotic exposure in the first year of life (aOR: 2.10) were significant risk factors, while breastfeeding (aOR: 0.19) was a protective factor.

Interpretation:

The study indicates a significant prevalence of asthma among children in Santiago, highlighting under-diagnosis and the urgent need for improved management of allergic diseases to enhance child health outcomes.

Limitations:

• Cross-sectional design limits causal inferences, making it difficult to establish direct relationships.
• Reliance on caregiver reports may introduce bias, potentially affecting the accuracy of asthma prevalence estimates.
• Limited generalizability beyond Santiago Island, necessitating further studies in other regions.

Conclusion:

The findings underscore the importance of integrated management strategies for asthma and related conditions, emphasizing breastfeeding and rational antibiotic use to mitigate childhood asthma in Cabo Verde, and providing a foundation for future research.