[Analysis on the changes of nutritional status in China anemia status of children under 5 in China]
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 14, 2026
A Point-of-Care Method with Integrated Decision Support Tool to Estimate Anemia at Population Level
Published on: January 19, 2024
Suying Chang1, Wu He, Fengmei Jia
1Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China.
Insights
Childhood anemia remains a persistent issue in China, with prevalence peaking between 6-12 months. Addressing maternal anemia and stunting is crucial for improving child nutrition and reducing anemia rates.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Nutrition Science
Context:
- Child nutrition status in China remains a significant public health concern.
- The Chinese Food and Nutrition Surveillance System provides valuable data for policy-making.
- Anemia prevalence in children under five has shown little change between 1992 and 2005.
Purpose:
- To provide evidence-based recommendations for improving child nutrition status in China.
- To analyze the prevalence and risk factors of childhood anemia.
- To investigate the relationship between maternal and child anemia.
Summary:
- Hemoglobin levels were measured using Cyanmethemoglobin and HemoCue, with a diagnostic criterion of 110 g/L for children aged 6 months to under 6 years, adjusted for high-altitude populations.
- Anemia prevalence varied by age, with a peak in children aged 6-12 months. Maternal anemia was a significant risk factor (OR=2.31), alongside factors like breastfeeding, stunting, low birth weight (LBW), and complementary food quality in younger children (4-23 months).
- For older children (24-59 months), maternal anemia and stunting remained key related factors.
Impact:
- Highlights the need for simultaneous interventions targeting both child and maternal anemia.
- Informs policy-makers on critical factors influencing childhood anemia in China.
- Emphasizes the importance of addressing stunting and maternal health for comprehensive child nutrition improvement.
Objective:
To provide the evidence to policy-maker for further improving child nutrition status in China based on the data of Chinese Food and Nutrition Surveillance System.
Methods:
To measure the content of Haemoglobin by Cyanmethemoglobin and HemoCue, The diagnostic criterion is 110 g/L for child aged 6 months to under 6, proposed by WHO and UNICEF, with adjustment for population living in high altitude over 1000m. To study on relationship between child anemia and mother anemia by measurement haemoglobin for children and their mother.
Results:
There is basically no change in anemia prevalence of children under 5 in 1992 - 2005. Prevalence of anemia is varying along with ages. The peak of anemia prevalence is 6 - 12 months. The related risk of anemia of mother and child anemia. is 2.31. The prevalence of diarrhea will increase by child anemia. Anemic mothers, breastfeeding, stunting, LBW and quality of complementary food are related factors of anemia of children aged 4 - 23 month. But only anemia of mothers and stunting are related to anemia of children aged 24 - 59 month.
Conclusion:
The necessary actions should be taken for improvement of anemia of children and mother simultaneously.
Related Concept Videos
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
01:23Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Overview and Drug Absorption