You will be presented with the abstract, introduction, and discussion section from a biomedical research article. Your task is to create a summary that a layperson can understand, capturing the essence of the research article. Keep essential scientific terms, but ensure that the language remains clear and the concepts are explained in an uncomplicated manner.

Title: Risk factors for asthma among schoolchildren who participated in a case-control study in urban Uganda}
Article:
Abstract:
Data on asthma aetiology in Africa are scarce. We investigated the risk factors for asthma among schoolchildren( 5–17 years) in urban Uganda. We conducted a case-control study, among 555 cases and 1115 controls. Asthma was diagnosed by study clinicians. The main risk factors for asthma were tertiary education for fathers( adjusted OR( 95% CI); 2. 32( 1. 71–3. 16)) and mothers( 1. 85( 1. 38–2. 48)); area of residence at birth, with children born in a small town or in the city having an increased asthma risk compared to schoolchildren born in rural areas( 2. 16( 1. 60–2. 92)) and( 2. 79( 1. 79–4. 35)), respectively; father’s and mother’s history of asthma; children’s own allergic conditions; atopy; and cooking on gas/electricity. In conclusion, asthma was associated with a strong rural-town-city risk gradient, higher parental socio-economic status and urbanicity. This work provides the basis for future studies to identify specific environmental/lifestyle factors responsible for increasing asthma risk among children in urban areas in LMICs.
Introduction:
Asthma is estimated to affect more than 235 million people globally, and is the most common non-communicable condition among children( World Health Organisation, 2017). In Africa, the prevalence of asthma appears to be increasing( Asher et al., 2006; Addo-Yobo et al., 2007; van Gemert et al., 2011; Zar et al., 2007; Lawson et al., 2017), particularly in urban areas( Addo-Yobo et al., 2007; Morgan et al., 2018), but the causes of this increase are not fully understood. Moreover, asthma has various phenotypes which may have different aetiologies( Lötvall et al., 2011). Asthma risk factors appear to vary internationally, and to differ between high-income countries( HICs) and low-and-middle income countries( LMICs)( Douwes and Pearce, 2002). There is little previously published data on asthma risk factors from Africa. The few studies reported have suggested that current residence in urban areas is associated with a higher risk of asthma than rural residence in Africa( Botha et al., 2019; Addo-Yobo et al., 2001) and other LMICs( Robinson et al., 2011; Gaviola et al., 2016). The association between helminth infections and asthma has been investigated in Africa and other LMICs, but the findings have been inconsistent across studies( Leonardi-Bee et al., 2006; Mpairwe and Amoah, 2019). Other risk factors for asthma in Africa and other LMICs, similar to those in HICs, include maternal smoking( Ayuk et al., 2018; Arrais et al., 2019), maternal history of asthma( Nantanda et al., 2013), childhood atopic sensitisation( Addo-Yobo et al., 2001; Nyembue et al., 2012) and history of allergy( Nantanda et al., 2013; Mehanna et al., 2018). Previous reports suggest no association between biomass fuels and asthma risk( Thacher et al., 2013; Oluwole et al., 2017a), but increased asthma symptoms( Oluwole et al., 2017a; Oluwole et al., 2017b). Unlike in HICs, higher parental education and socioeconomic status has been associated with asthma among children in Africa( Addo-Yobo et al., 2007; Nantanda et al., 2013; Wolff et al., 2012). We undertook a case-control study among schoolchildren in an urban area in Uganda, to investigate the main risk factors for asthma and the patterns of allergic sensitisation.
Discussion:
The risk of asthma among schoolchildren in urban Uganda is strongly predicted by their area of residence in early life, particularly at birth, with the highest risk among children whose early life is spent in small towns and in the city. This risk increases further in the presence of other asthma risk factors such as parental history of allergic disease, children’s own atopy, higher measures of socio-economic status and urbanicity. Given the current rapid urbanisation in Africa and other LMICs, the prevalence of asthma is likely to increase further. This study provides the basis for future studies investigating environmental and lifestyle factors that increase asthma risk in the urban areas of LMICs.
Asthma is a chronic disease of the airways that leads to breathing difficulty and sometimes death: the condition affects about 235 million people worldwide , especially children . Scientists still do not know exactly what causes asthma , but studies in Europe and North America suggest that individuals born or raised in rural areas are less likely to be affected . However , few studies have examined asthma in African countries , where urbanization is often quickly increasing . Examining the factors associated with the disease as more people move to cities may provide new clues about how asthma emerges , and how to prevent it . To this end , Mpairwe et al . conducted a study with over 1 , 670 schoolchildren in Uganda . Those born or raised in rural areas were least likely to have asthma , but the risk doubled among children from small towns , and tripled in those born or who grew up in the city . Children whose parents had a higher education and socioeconomic status had the highest asthma risk , but more work is required to understand why this is the case . The study by Mpairwe et al . is the first step towards identifying environmental and lifestyle factors associated with increased asthma risk in Africa . Further studies may help scientists to understand how beginning life in a more urban area plays a role in the development of the disease .