Adolescent Anemia and Iron Deficiency in Eastern Sudan: A Cross-Sectional Study

Anemia is a global public health problem, particularly in resource-constrained settings, such as Sub-Saharan Africa. However, there is a paucity of data on anemia among adolescents in Sudan.

This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency among adolescents in Eastern Sudan.

A community-based survey was conducted from August to October 2023. Sociodemographic data were collected using a face-to-face questionnaire. Hemoglobin, serum ferritin, and C-reactive protein levels were measured. A multivariate binary analysis was performed.

Of the 388 enrolled adolescents, 207 (53.4%) were female and 181 (46.6%) were male. The median (interquartile range [IQR] age was 14.0 (12.0-16.1) years. A total of 145 (37.4%) adolescents had anemia, which was severe in one (0.3%) adolescent. In the multivariate binary analysis, age (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 0.84, 95% confidence interval [CI] =0.77-0.92, P < 0.001) and level of serum ferritin (AOR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.98-0.998, P = 0.013) were inversely associated with anemia; being male (AOR = 2.56, 95% CI = 1.64-4.00, P < 0.001) was associated with increased odds of anemia; and parents' education, parents' occupation, body mass index (BMI) z-score, and C-reactive protein levels were not associated with anemia. Moreover, 67 (17.3%) adolescents had iron deficiency, and 41 (10.6%) had iron deficiency anemia (i.e. iron deficiency and anemia). In the multivariate binary analysis, being male (AOR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.33-0.99, P = 0.047) was associated with decreased odds of iron deficiency. Age, sex, parents' education, parents' occupation, and BMI z-score were not associated with iron deficiency.

Two-fifths of adolescents in Eastern Sudan had anemia, a moderate public health problem. Younger age and males were the most affected groups. The introduction of screening programs for anemia and iron deficiency at the community level is recommended to ensure adolescents' health in the present and adulthood. Effective interventions in nutrition programs are needed to address adolescents' nutritional challenges and reduce anemia in the study area.