Inequalities in anemia among Peruvian children aged 6-59months: A decomposition analysis

Ali Al-Kassab-Córdova1, Carolina Mendez-Guerra2, Pamela Robles-Valcarcel2

  • 1Centro de Excelencia en Investigaciones Económicas y Sociales en Salud, Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, Lima, Peru.

Insights

Anemia affects nearly one-third of young Peruvian children, with poorer populations disproportionately affected. Addressing maternal education and highland residence is key to reducing this health inequality.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Health
  • Public Health
  • Health Economics

Background:

  • Anemia is a significant global child health concern, particularly in low-resource settings.
  • Peru faces a substantial burden of childhood anemia, necessitating an understanding of its socio-economic dimensions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To quantify socio-economic inequalities in anemia prevalence among Peruvian children aged 6-59 months.
  • To identify key contributing factors to these inequalities.

Main Methods:

  • Cross-sectional study using the 2021 Peruvian Demographic and Health Survey (DHS).
  • Anemia defined as hemoglobin < 11 g/dL, adjusted for altitude.
  • Erreygers Concentration Index (ECI) used to measure socio-economic inequality and its decomposition.

Main Results:

  • National anemia prevalence was 29.47%.
  • A pro-poor inequality in anemia was observed (ECI = -0.1848).
  • Maternal education and highland residence were significant contributors to anemia inequality, explaining 81.85% of the variation.

Conclusions:

  • Nearly one-third of Peruvian children suffer from anemia, with a notable pro-poor distribution.
  • Household, community factors, maternal education, and geographic location significantly drive anemia inequality.
  • Targeted public health interventions addressing these factors are crucial for equitable anemia reduction.
Abstract

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