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Updated: Aug 30, 2026
A Point-of-Care Method with Integrated Decision Support Tool to Estimate Anemia at Population Level
Published on: January 19, 2024
[Anemia in children under 3 years of age in public day care centers]
Gisela S Brunken1, Lenir V Guimarães, Mauro Fisberg
1Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá, MT, Brazil.
Insights
Anemia is a severe public health issue in Cuiabá, Brazil, affecting 63% of children under 36 months in daycare. This high prevalence of anemia in young children requires urgent attention and intervention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Anemia is a significant global health concern, particularly in young children.
- Nutritional deficiencies and suboptimal growth are common in early childhood.
- Understanding anemia prevalence in daycare settings is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of anemia in children under 36 months old.
- To investigate the association between anemia and anthropometric indicators in this age group.
- To assess the public health implications of childhood anemia in Cuiabá, Brazil.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study was conducted with 271 children under 36 months.
- Hemoglobin levels were measured using venous blood samples.
- Anthropometric indicators (weight-for-age, height-for-age, weight-for-height) were assessed.
Main Results:
- A high prevalence of anemia (63%) was observed in the study population.
- Anemia was associated with age, weight deficit, height deficit, and daycare admission time.
- While malnutrition was not directly associated with anemia, extreme anthropometric deficits showed a correlation.
Conclusions:
- The high prevalence of anemia constitutes a severe public health problem among preschool children in Cuiabá.
- Early identification and management of anemia are critical for child development.
- Further research into the underlying causes and effective interventions is warranted.
Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of anemia in children aged less than 36 months in public day care centers in the city of Cuiabá, state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. METHODS: Cross-sectional study with all children (n=271) less than 36 months of age who attended public day care centers in mid-1997. Children were evaluated as to their hemoglobin levels (venous blood, analyzed at the Central State Laboratory) and anthropometric indicators (weight/age, height/age, weight/height). RESULTS: A high prevalence (63%) of anemia associated with age, weight and height deficit, and time of admittance at kindergarten was observed. The prevalence of malnutrition was 0.8% according to the weight/height ratio, 5.0% according to weight/age deficit, and showed an inadequacy of 10.3% as to the height/age ratio. Thus, the percentage of anemic children was six times higher than the height deficit and twelve times higher than the weight deficit. Malnutrition was not in fact associated with anemia, but at extreme anthropometric cut-off points of height and weight for age (< -2 z score), there is an association between these conditions. CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of anemia is regarded as a severe public health problem among preschool children in the city of Cuiabá.
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