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Prevalence and Determinants of Iron Deficiency Anemia Among Children Under Five Years at Luwero General Hospital,
Sumahia Namaganda1, Vicent Otekat1, Daphin Ayebale1
1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, Mbarara University of Science and Technology, Mbarara, Uganda.
Insights
Iron deficiency anemia affects 16.6% of children under five. Male gender and recent infections increase risk, while parental age (20-39) offers protection against this common childhood condition.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Hematology
Background:
- Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a significant public health issue in children under five.
- Prevalence and risk factors for IDA in this age group require ongoing investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in children under five years old.
- To identify the key determinants associated with IDA in this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 380 children under five years old at Luwero Hospital.
- Data collection included structured questionnaires and laboratory tests (hemoglobin, ferritin).
- Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify independent risk and protective factors for IDA.
Main Results:
- Anemia prevalence was 38.4%, with 16.6% having iron deficiency anemia (IDA).
- Independent risk factors for IDA included male gender (aOR: 2.29) and recent infection (aOR: 5.62).
- Parental age of 20-29 years (aOR: 0.21) and 30-39 years (aOR: 0.17) were protective against IDA.
Conclusions:
- Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) affects a notable percentage of young children, with specific risk factors identified.
- Targeted screening and interventions for male children and those with recent infections are recommended.
- Parental age, particularly between 20-39 years, demonstrates a protective effect against IDA.
Background:
Iron deficiency anemia is a public health concern among children under five years old. This study aimed to determine the prevalence and determinants of iron deficiency anemia among children under five years attending Luwero General Hospital, Luwero District.
Patients And Methods:
This cross-sectional study included 380 children under five years old who attended Luweero Hospital. Participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique, and caregivers were interviewed using a structured questionnaire to collect demographic information. Laboratory tests performed were; hemoglobin and ferritin level, to evaluate anemia severity. Iron deficiency anemia was defined as serum ferritin levels below 12 μg/L. Association between determinants and iron deficiency was attained by developing bivariate and multivariate logistic regression models using STATA software version 14, and a p value of <0.05 was considered significant.
Results:
This study found that anemia was prevalent amongst children under five years, affecting 38.4% (n = 146) of the sample, with iron deficiency anemia (IDA) identified in 16.6% (n = 63). Majority of the children with iron deficiency anemia had moderate anemia 32 (50.8%). At multivariate analysis, several factors were independently associated with iron deficiency anemia (IDA); male gender (aOR: 2.29, 95% CI: 1.20-4.35, p = 0.012), and children that had infection in the past 3 months (aOR: 5.62, 95% CI: 2.94-10.74, p < 0.000). However, parental age of 20-29 years (aOR: 0.21, 95% CI: 0.06-0.73, p = 0.014) and 30-39 years (aOR: 0.17; 95% CI: 0.05-0.59; p = 0.005) were independently associated with a significantly reduced odds of iron deficiency anemia (IDA).
Conclusion:
The study highlights that iron deficiency anaemia is a significant health concern affecting 16.6% of the children studied. Male sex and a recent history of infection were found to be significant independent risk factors for IDA. Conversely, parental age between 20 and 39 years was identified as a strong independent protective factor, with the most pronounced reduction in IDA odds observed among children of parents aged 30-39. Anemia screening and intervention programs should be proactively targeted towards male children, especially those with a recent history of infection.
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