Knowledge and health promotion behaviors of children with asthma in Oman ? A cross sectional study.

Childhood asthma is widely prevalent all over the globe. The prevalence of asthma among school children in Oman in the year 2001 was estimated to be 20.7% among 13 to 14 years and 10.5% among 6 to 7-year-old children. In 2013, the annual cost of treatment for children excluding medications, was OMR 27,014,735 (USD 70,238,311). So far only one study was conducted in Oman in 2008, to assess the knowledge of asthma in children. Given the dearth of Omanis studies conducted in this area, it?s important to conduct this study on school children diagnosed with bronchial asthma and assess their knowledge on asthma, and health promotion behaviors adopted by them. The findings of this study will enable health care decision makers to develop and implement appropriate health interventions for children to promote their health, prevent frequent hospitalizations, inculcate healthy behaviors thereby enhancing their quality of life.