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Anaemia and its determinants among young children aged 6-23 months in Ethiopia (2005-2016)
Helen Heinrichs1, Bilal Shikur Endris2, Tariku Dejene3
1Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Insights
Childhood anaemia in Ethiopia affects over two-thirds of young children. Key risk factors include young age, maternal anaemia, and pastoralist region residence, necessitating targeted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Childhood anaemia is a major public health concern globally and in Ethiopia.
- Over two-thirds of children under two years old in Ethiopia suffer from anaemia.
- Ethiopian Demographic and Health Surveys (EDHS) provide valuable data for analysis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the determinants of childhood anaemia in Ethiopia over an 11-year period.
- To analyze trends in anaemia prevalence using EDHS data from 2005, 2011, and 2016.
- To identify significant risk factors associated with childhood anaemia.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) for 2005, 2011, and 2016.
- Included 7,324 children aged 6-23 months in the analysis.
- Applied multivariable logistic regression to assess determinants of anaemia.
Main Results:
- Anaemia prevalence was high: 71% (2005), 61% (2011), and 72% (2016).
- Significant determinants included younger age (under 1 year), maternal anaemia, and living in pastoralist regions.
- Dietary factors and infections were not significantly associated with anaemia in this study.
Conclusions:
- Urgent, multisectoral interventions are crucial to address the high prevalence of childhood anaemia.
- Recommendations include targeting pastoralist regions, improving maternal and child health, and screening/treating at-risk groups.
- These interventions aim to reduce the adverse health effects of anaemia in young children.
Abstract:
Anaemia in children remains a significant public health threat. Recent numbers from Ethiopia showed that more than two-thirds of children under the age of 2 years were anaemic. This study aimed to investigate the determinants of anaemia throughout Ethiopia over 11 years, making use of the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) rounds 2005, 2011 and 2016. The EDHS made it possible to use data on blood tests and detailed questionnaires among infants and young children. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to assess the association of anaemia and different immediate and underlying determinants. A total of 7,324 children aged 6-23 months were included in the analysis, with prevalences of anaemia being 71% in 2005, 61% in 2011 and 72% in 2016. The following determinants were significantly associated with childhood anaemia throughout the entire period: children younger than 1 year, anaemic mothers and those growing up in pastoralist regions. Risk factors such as diet and infections were consistently not significantly associated with anaemia. Given the tremendous adverse health effects of anaemia in young children, urgent action is needed. Hence, this study recommends nationwide multisectoral interventions targeting pastoralist regions, maternal and child health, screening and treatment of risk groups that could reduce the prevalence of anaemia.
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