Magnitude, Severity and Associated Factors of Anemia among Under- Five Children Attending Hawassa University Teaching and Referral Hospital and Adare Hospital in Hawassa, Southern Ethiopia, 2016
No Thumbnail Available
Date
2016-07
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Background: Anemia is a widespread public health problem associated with increased riskof morbidity and mortality. Infants, under 5-year-old children and pregnant women havegreater susceptibility to anemia. The magnitude and associated risk factors for anemia vary indifferent settings.
Objective: To determine the magnitude, severity and associated factors of anemia amongunder five children attending at Hawassa University Teaching and Referral hospital andAdare hospital, Southern Ethiopia.
Methods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted fromDecember 2015 toJune 2016 at Hawassa University Teaching and Referral hospital and Adare hospitals inHawassa, Southern Ethiopia. A total of 422 under five children were included applyingconvenient sampling method. Socio demographic data and other predisposing factors werecollected by using interviewer administered structured questionnaire. Venous blood samplewere collected from each child and analyzed for hemoglobin determination using cell-Dyn1800 automated analyzer. Stained thin and thick smears were prepared for malaria parasitesdetection. Stool samples were collected and processed using direct wet mount and formol-ether concentration method to detect intestinal parasites. Data was entered and analyzedusing SPSS version 20 statistical packages. Binary and multiple logistic regressions werecomputed to assess association between variables. P-value less than 0.05 was taken asstatistically significant.
Result: Among the 422 study participants, 235(55.7%) were males and 187(44.3%) werefemales. The mean hemoglobin level was 10.59 g/dl and about 176(41.7%) of children wereanemic. Anemia was of mild, moderate and severe type in 6.6%, 19% and 16.1% of thechildren, respectively. Being in the age group 6–23 months [AOR = 2.04: 95% CI (1.13, 3.69)], andhaving mothers with no formal education [AOR = 1.73: 95%CI (0.99, 3.02)] were identified asassociated factors for anemia.
Conclusion: The magnitude of anemia was remarkably high beingpredominantly ofmoderate and severe type. Children between 6 to 23 months and those who had mothers withno formal education were more likely to be anemic. Thus, interventions like health education formothers/care givers should be strengthened.
Key words: Anemia, Under five children
Description
Keywords
Anemia, Under five children