Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 26, 2026
Author Spotlight: Developing a Point-of-Care Hemoglobin Estimation Method for Anemia Management
Published on: January 19, 2024
Anaemia and iron deficiency in peri-urban school children born in a National HIV Prevention Programme in Zimbabwe: A
Insights
Anaemia was a mild public health concern in school children born into an HIV prevention program. HIV infection significantly increased anaemia risk, highlighting the importance of pediatric HIV elimination efforts.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Anaemia and iron deficiency are significant global child health issues.
- Children born to HIV-positive mothers require monitoring for nutritional deficiencies.
- National mother-to-child HIV prevention programs aim to improve child health outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of anaemia, iron deficiency, and iron deficiency anaemia.
- To assess these conditions in school-aged children within a national HIV prevention program.
- To identify risk factors, particularly HIV infection, associated with anaemia.
Main Methods:
- A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in a resource-poor peri-urban setting.
- School-aged children (6-10 years) born into a national HIV prevention program were recruited.
- Haemoglobin, serum ferritin, and serum transferrin receptor levels were measured.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of anaemia, iron deficiency, and iron deficiency anaemia was 15%, 4%, and 2%, respectively.
- Adjusting for infection, iron deficiency prevalence rose to 32% and iron deficiency anaemia to 5%.
- Anaemia was nearly five times more likely in HIV-infected children compared to uninfected children.
Conclusions:
- Anaemia posed a mild public health risk in this cohort; iron deficiency anaemia was a minor contributor.
- HIV infection was a key determinant of anaemia in these children.
- Continued efforts to eliminate pediatric HIV are crucial for reducing childhood anaemia.
Objective:
To determine the prevalence of anaemia, iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia in school children who were born in a national HIV prevention programme.
Design:
This was a community based cross-sectional study.
Setting:
A resource poor peri-urban setting with high prevalence of HIV infection.
Subjects:
School aged children six to 10 years old who were born in a national mother-to-child HIV prevention programme.
Main Outcome Measures:
Haemoglobin (Hb), serum Ferritin (F) and serum Transferrin receptor (sTfR) levels.
Results:
Three hundred and eighteen children were recruited including 21 HIV positive. The prevalence of anaemia (Hb < 11.5 grams per litre), iron deficiency (F<15 micrograms per litre) and iron deficiency anaemia (Hb < 11.5 g/L and either F < 15 μg/L or sTfR > 8.3 μg/L) were 15%, 4% and 2% respectively. When a higher cut-off for ferritin of 30 micrograms per litre was applied to adjust for high infection disease burden, iron deficiency prevalence increased to 32% and iron deficiency anaemia increased to 5%. Anaemia was 4.9 (C.I 1.9-12.4) times more likely to occur in HIV infected children compared to the HIV uninfected children. Maternal HIV status at birth was not related to presence of anaemia in the school children.
Conclusion:
Anaemia was of mild public health significance in this cohort of children. Iron deficiency anaemia contributed less than a quarter of the cases of anaemia. HIV infection was an important determinant for presence of anaemia. Therefore continued efforts to eliminate paediatric HIV infection as a way of reducing anaemia in children are essential.
