Outcomes associated with the BReATHE (Beating Regional Asthma Through Health Education) intervention among asthmatic children: A hospital-based quasi-experimental evaluation in Kenya

Introduction: Asthma remains one of the most common chronic diseases in childhood worldwide and specifically in Kenya, where it contributes substantially to morbidity, impaired quality of life, and school absenteeism Methods A quasi-experimental evaluation involving 108 asthmatic children and their caregivers was conducted between January and June 2025. Participants were non-randomly assigned into intervention and control groups. Baseline, midline, and end line assessments evaluated asthma control and caregiver knowledge using structured questionnaires. The BReATHE intervention entailed monthly education sessions on triggers, medication use, and inhaler technique. Data were analyzed using paired and independent t -tests, Chi-square tests, logistic regression, and Difference-in-Differences (DiD) modeling. Results At baseline, both groups had similar asthma control, with comparable rates of exacerbations, hospital visits, and school absenteeism. Over the six-month follow-up, the intervention group demonstrated improved asthma control, evidenced by a reduction in the frequency of asthma exacerbations, fewer hospital visits, and decreased school absenteeism compared to the control group (p < 0.001) and fewer asthma episodes (mean 2.0 vs. 4.3, DiD = − 2.2, p  < 0.001). These findings highlight the effectiveness of targeted interventions in improving clinical and functional outcomes for children with asthma. Severe asthma episodes (≥ 3) declined to 22.2% in the intervention group versus 70.4% in controls ( p  < 0.001). Conclusion The BReATHE intervention significantly reduced asthma exacerbations. Integrating structured asthma education into routine pediatric care can enhance asthma control and overall outcomes in low-resource settings.