Prevalence of childhood iron deficiency anaemia in children visiting a peri-urban health care facility
Abstract
Children of ages 6 months to 6 years were recruited in a cross-sectional survey to
determine the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia and its associated factors in the Minnesota
International Volunteers Health Facility, a peri-urban health centre. A total of 403 children
were recruited during the months of February and March 1993. History taking included
details of age, sex, birth weight, breastfeeding, weaning age and diet, sanitation, water source
and mother's education. Each child was then examined for signs of iron deficiency anaemia.
Blood was drawn from each child and the diagnosis of iron deficiency anaemia was made on
the basis of a low haemoglobin, a low mean corpuscular volume and a low serum ferritin.
Stool was examined for helminths using the formal ether concentration method.
The mean age of the 403 children studied was 28.51 months (SD = 19.3). The
prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia was found to be 7.4% (95% CI=4.8-1O.0) and iron
deficiency anaemia was found to be the most frequent cause of anaemia accounting for 38.5%
of the total anaemia. Most of the iron deficiency anaemia, 93.6% , was mild and none of the
subjects studied had the signs of iron deficiency anaemia. Age was found to have a significant
association with iron deficiency anaemia with prevalence being highest, 14.6 %, in those in the
first year of life followed by a prevalence of 6.7% in those in the second year of life. No
association was found between iron deficiency anaemia and sex, birth weight, weaning age and
diet, sanitation, water source, heminthiasis and mother's education.
It was therefore recommended that further study be carried out to determine the risk
factors associated with iron deficiency anaemia in children of ages 6 months to 6 years
attending the Minnesota International Health Volunteers facility with emphasis on those of age
below one year.
Citation
Degree Of Master of Medicine (Paediatrics)Publisher
University of Nairobi School of Medicine
Description
Dissertation presented in part fulfillment for The Degree Of
Master of Medicine (Paediatrics)