Health Policy 99 (2011) 250–254 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect Health Policy journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/healthpol Asthma in Nigeria: Are the facilities and resources available to support internationally endorsed standards of care? Olufemi Olumuyiwa Desalu a,∗ , Cajetan Chigozie Onyedum b , Kufre Robert Iseh c , Fatai Kunle Salawu d , Alakija Kazeem Salami a a Department of Medicine, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Ilorin, Nigeria b Department of Medicine, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria c Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, Nigeria d Department of Medicine, Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Nigeria article info Keywords: Asthma care Facilities Resources Guidelines Nigeria abstract Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the facilities and resources available to support internationally endorsed standards of asthma care at tertiary hospitals (University teaching, Federal Medical Centre and State specialist Hospitals) in Nigeria. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted among 68 tertiary hospitals (TH) in Nigeria from June 2009 to December 2009. Structured standards of care questionnaires on asthma based on the Global initiative for asthma (GINA) guideline were completed by physician working in each of the TH. Results: Most TH lacked the services of respiratory physicians, internists, and pediatricians. Available basic infrastructures were asthma clinics (0%), clinic registers (20.6%), and hospi- tal protocol (17.6%), doctor’s attendance of asthma CME (8.8%) and nurse educator with a bias for asthma (14.7%). Thirty eight percent of TH had peak flow meter, 29.4% had spirometer, skin allergy test kits (15.6%), pulse oximeter (38.2%) while 17.6% had arte- rial blood gases analyser. Nebuliser and spacer were available in 41.2% and 20.6% of TH respectively. Oral short acting beta 2 agonist (SABA) was available in 79.4% of the hospi- tals, glucocorticosteroid (79.4%), theophyllines (76.5%), and SABA (metered-dose inhaler MDI: 76.5%, Nebules: 35.3%). Long acting beta 2 agonist (LABA) and steroid fixed dose com- bination inhaler (50%) was available in 50% of TH. Glucocorticosteroid nasal spray was available in 33.3% of TH and <10% reported the availability of anti-cholinergic and chro- moglycate inhaler and oral leukotriene antagonist. Standard oxygen delivery system and self-educational support materials were available in 52.9% of TH. Conclusion: The available facilities and human resources for asthma management in Nige- rian tertiary hospitals were not enough to support the standard internationally endorsed for asthma care. Provisions of deficient infrastructures and continuous training of health care personnel in asthma management are imperative to enhance the quality of care. © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. ∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +234 08035025771. E-mail addresses: femuy1967@yahoo.co.uk (O.O. Desalu), cajjonyedum@yahoo.co.uk (C.C. Onyedum), frobih@yahoo.com (K.R. Iseh), dr abdulsalawu@yahoo.com (F.K. Salawu), salkaz2000@yahoo.com (A.K. Salami). 1. Introduction Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the air- ways in which many cells and cellular elements play a role [1]. The chronic inflammation is associated with airway hyper-responsiveness that leads to recurrent episodes of wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing, 0168-8510/$ – see front matter © 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.healthpol.2010.10.006