Objectives: Global burden of childhood asthma has increased in the past few decades,
particularly in low-income countries. In Pakistan, there is a lack of community-based
epidemiological studies estimating the burden of asthma among children. This study
determined the prevalence and predictors of asthma among children 3–17 years of age in
Karachi, Pakistan. Methods: A two-stage community-based representative cross-sectional survey
was conducted in Karachi from March 2012 to April 2013 comprising 1046 children aged 3–17
years. Of 7500 clusters, 80 were randomly selected, and of these, 15 children per cluster
were enrolled randomly. A translated and pre-tested version of International Study of Asthma
and Allergies in Children questionnaire was administered. Results: The overall prevalence
of asthma among study participants was 10.2% (95% CI: 8.4–12.0). Asthma was more likely
to occur among boys (adj. OR: 2.5, 95% CI: 1.6–4.0), children in the younger age group
(3–7 years) (adj. OR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.7–4.8), those living in households with ill-ventilated kitchens
(adj. OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.1–3.1), having family history of asthma (adj. OR: 2.3, 95% CI: 1.3–3.9)
and those of the Sindhi ethnicity (adj. OR: 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1–4.4). Conclusion: This study is the
first robust evidence regarding asthma among children in Pakistan, reporting a high burden in
this group. Family history, male gender, Sindhi ethnicity and ill-ventilated kitchen were
identified as important predictors of asthma. Targeted preventive measures and intervention
studies are required to better understand and reduce the burden of asthma among children in
Pakistan.