Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 25, 2026

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children
10:57

Determining Soil-transmitted Helminth Infection Status and Physical Fitness of School-aged Children

Published on: August 22, 2012

Determinants of anemia in pre-school children in the occupied Palestinian territory

S Halileh1, N H Gordon

  • 1Institute of Community and Public Health, Birzeit University, West Bank, Occupied Palestinian Territory Department of Bioethics, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Samia@birzeit.edu

Journal of Tropical Pediatrics
|June 30, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Anemia in Palestinian preschool children is linked to reduced income, lower iron intake, and stunting. The Gaza Strip shows higher anemia rates than the West Bank, highlighting regional disparities in child health.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Nutrition
  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Anemia is a significant global child health issue, particularly in developing regions.
  • The occupied Palestinian territory faces unique socioeconomic and health challenges.
  • Identifying anemia determinants is crucial for targeted interventions in preschool children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the determinants of anemia in preschool children (6-59 months) in the occupied Palestinian territory.
  • To identify high-risk groups for anemia intervention.
  • To examine the impact of the uprising on child anemia and related factors.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional survey of 3331 randomly selected preschool children.
  • Data collection included blood samples for anemia (Hb <11 g/dl) and 24 variables (family, housing, maternal/child characteristics, income, food intake).
  • Multivariate analysis to identify independent risk factors for anemia.

Main Results:

  • Anemia was independently associated with reduced income, decreased iron intake, infrequent gastrointestinal infections, stunting, and current breastfeeding status.
  • The Gaza Strip had a higher prevalence of anemia in children aged 6-35 months compared to the West Bank.
  • Regional disparities in anemia prevalence were observed.

Conclusions:

  • Socioeconomic factors like income reduction and nutritional status (iron intake, stunting) are key determinants of anemia in preschool children.
  • Geographic location (Gaza Strip vs. West Bank) is an independent risk factor for anemia.
  • Interventions should address nutritional deficiencies, socioeconomic factors, and regional health disparities to combat childhood anemia.

More Related Videos

Quantitating Iron Transport Across the Mouse Placenta In Vivo Using Nonradioactive Iron Isotopes08:45

Quantitating Iron Transport Across the Mouse Placenta In Vivo Using Nonradioactive Iron Isotopes

Published on: May 10, 2022

A Point-of-Care Method with Integrated Decision Support Tool to Estimate Anemia at Population Level05:35

A Point-of-Care Method with Integrated Decision Support Tool to Estimate Anemia at Population Level

Published on: January 19, 2024

Related Concept Videos

Factors Affecting Respiration01:24

Factors Affecting Respiration

Respiration is a crucial physiological function involving exchanging oxygen (O2) and carbon dioxide (CO2) between an organism and its environment. Various factors can impact this essential process:
Overview of Hematopoiesis01:20

Overview of Hematopoiesis

Hematopoiesis, or blood cell production, is a vital biological process that begins early in embryonic development and continues throughout life. This process generates the various types of cells found in blood, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).
Developmental Phases of Hematopoiesis
Initially, HSCs are formed in the embryonic yolk sac, a critical site for early blood cell production. These stem cells subsequently migrate to other...
Disorders of Erythrocytes01:27

Disorders of Erythrocytes

Disorders of erythrocytes, or red blood cells (RBCs), include a range of conditions affecting their number, shape, or function.
Erythrocyte disorders can be broadly categorized into two main types: anemic and polycythemic conditions.
A low oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood due to the loss, lower production, or destruction of erythrocytes is termed anemia. Hemorrhagic anemia, for example, occurs when bleeding from an external wound or internal ulcer reduces erythrocyte counts.
On the other...
Factors Affecting Erythropoiesis01:24

Factors Affecting Erythropoiesis

The cardiovascular system regulates the number of erythrocytes in the bloodstream to ensure optimal oxygen transport. It also prevents over-proliferation of these cells, which helps to maintain blood viscosity and flow rate.
Several factors influence the erythrocyte production rate, with tissue oxygen level being among the most critical. Intense exercise or high altitudes can cause tissue hypoxia, which triggers the kidneys to release more erythropoietin (EPO) into the bloodstream.
EPO then...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption01:23

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption

Understanding the physiological differences in the pediatric population is crucial for effective pharmacotherapy. Neonates, infants, and children exhibit significant variations in gastric pH, gastric emptying time, intestinal transit time, and biliary function. These variations profoundly affect oral drug absorption, necessitating a nuanced approach to pediatric dosing.Neonates present with a unique physiological profile, having a gastric pH greater than 4 and faster and more irregular gastric...
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution01:17

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Distribution

Drug distribution in the pediatric population exhibits unique challenges and considerations due to the physiological differences between children, particularly neonates and infants, and adults. A crucial aspect of pediatric pharmacology is understanding how these differences impact the pharmacokinetics of various drugs, necessitating age-specific dosing strategies to ensure efficacy and safety.Neonates and infants have a higher total body water content, ~75%–90% of their body weight, compared...