Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 29, 2025
Author Spotlight: Developing a Point-of-Care Hemoglobin Estimation Method for Anemia Management
Published on: January 19, 2024
Iron deficiency anemia among children aged 2-5 years in southern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study
Alemselam Zebdewos Orsango1,2, Wossene Habtu3, Tadesse Lejisa3
1School of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia.
Insights
Iron deficiency anemia affects 25% of young children in southern Ethiopia, linked to low iron-rich food intake. Interventions should target nutrition education and food access to combat this public health issue.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Nutritional Epidemiology
Background:
- Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is a significant nutritional anemia in low-income nations, with limited data in Ethiopia, especially for children aged 2-5 years.
- Understanding IDA prevalence and risk factors is crucial for targeted public health interventions in vulnerable populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in children aged 2-5 years in southern Ethiopia.
- To identify risk factors associated with IDA, with a specific focus on iron-rich food consumption.
Main Methods:
- A community-based cross-sectional study involving 331 children aged 2-5 years in southern Ethiopia.
- Data collected via questionnaires and blood analysis (hemoglobin, ferritin, CRP) to diagnose anemia and iron deficiency.
- Logistic regression models used to analyze associations between IDA, iron-rich food intake, and other factors.
Main Results:
- The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) was 25%, with overall anemia at 32%.
- Low consumption of iron-rich foods was observed: 15% in the last 24 hours and 30% weekly.
- Higher maternal education and household dietary diversity were linked to increased iron-rich food consumption.
Conclusions:
- Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) represents a moderate public health concern in southern Ethiopia, exacerbated by low iron-rich food consumption.
- Recommended interventions include food supplementation, fortification, diversification, nutritional education, and promoting female education.
Background:
Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common type of nutritional anemia in low-income countries, including Ethiopia. However, there is limited data on iron deficiency anemia prevalence and associated factors in Ethiopia, particularly for children aged 2 to 5 years.
Objectives:
To establish the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia and associated risk factors, focusing on iron-rich food consumption among children aged 2 to 5 years in southern Ethiopia.
Methods:
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in southern Ethiopia in 2017, involving 331 randomly selected children aged 2 to 5 years old. A structured questionnaire was used to collect information about the children and the households. Venous blood was collected from each child in a test tube to measure hemoglobin, ferritin, and C-reactive protein (CRP). Hemoglobin levels were determined using Hemocue®301 and adjusted for altitude. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin levels <11 g/dl. Ferritin was adjusted for inflammation based on CRP concentration and low ferritin concentration defined as adjusted ferritin concentration <12 µg/L. IDA was considered when a child had both hemoglobin level <11g/dl and low ferritin concentration. Bi-variable and multivariable logistic regression models were performed to identify factors associated with IDA and iron-rich food consumption.
Results:
The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia was 25%, and the total anemia prevalence was 32%. Only 15% of children consumed iron-rich foods in the preceding 24 h, and 30% of children consumed iron-rich foods at least once in the preceding week. IDA decreased as the height for age z-score increased (Adjusted Odds Ratio 0.7; 95% CI [0.5-0.9]). Mothers with increased educational level (AOR 1.1; 1.0-1.2) and households with increased dietary diversity (AOR 1.4; 1.2-1.6) consumed more iron-rich foods.
Conclusions:
Iron deficiency anaemia was a moderate public health problem in southern Ethiopia, and the iron-rich food consumption was low. Interventions should focus on food supplementation and fortification, food diversification and nutritional education, and promoting women's education.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Disorders of Erythrocytes
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...
00:57The Periodic Table and Organismal Elements
01:24Factors Affecting Erythropoiesis
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...
01:29Drug Dosing: Infants and Children
01:14Erythropoiesis