Prevalence and factors associated with anaemia among children aged 6 to 59 months in Namutumba district, Uganda: a cross- sectional study
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Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BMC
Abstract
Anaemia is one of the major causes of death among children under five years in Africa, with a prevalence
of 64.6% among pre-school children. In 2014, we conducted a cross-sectional study in Namutumba district in East-central
Uganda to determine the prevalence and factors associated with anaemia among children aged 6 to 59 months.
Methods: We conducted a household survey in 376 randomly selected households. One child aged 6 to 59 months was
randomly sampled from each selected household. A structured questionnaire administered to an adult caregiver was
used to collect household data. Blood was collected by finger or heel prick to estimate the haemoglobin level using a
portable haemocue analyser. Anthropometric data including age, weight and height was collected for each child. A
modified poisson regression model was used to determine the correlates of anaemia, prevalence ratios and their 95%
confidence intervals (CI).
Results: The prevalence of anaemia was high (58.8%) and was highest among children aged 12 to 23 months (68.5%)
and males (61.3%). About 27.7% children were stunted. Children aged 6–11 and 12–23 months were more likely to be
anaemic (APR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.05–1.19 and APR = 1.12; 95% CI: 1.00–1.24 respectively), Resident of Magada and
Namutumba (urban areas) were less likely to be anaemic (APR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.87–0.91and APR = 0.86; 95% CI: 0. 85–0.88
respectively). Children of caretakers of a big family size (seven or more children) and with any formal education were less
likely to be anaemic (APR = 0.94; 95% CI: 0.89–0.99 and APR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.87–0.99). Stunting (HAZ scores) was a
predictor of anaemia (APR = 1.07; 95% CI: 1.02–1.12).
Conclusion: Anaemia is highly prevalent among children and there is need to invest in measures to prevent anaemia,
especially among children in the rural areas.
Description
Keywords
Anaemia, Children, Namutumba district, Uganda
Citation
Kuziga, F., Adoke, Y., & Wanyenze, R. K. (2017). Prevalence and factors associated with anaemia among children aged 6 to 59 months in Namutumba district, Uganda: a cross-sectional study. BMC pediatrics, 17(1), 1-9.DOI 10.1186/s12887-017-0782-3