Accepted for presentation at the Consortium of Universities for Global Health Annual Conference 2017
Jennie G. Godwin; A. Nwaba; A. A. Nwaba; V. P. Rajamanickam; K. Mezu-Nnabue; E. Esenwah; N. Ikoro; O. J. Mezu-Ndubuisi
Background: Iron deficiency is the most common
nutritional deficiency and hematologic disease of children worldwide. A
humanitarian medical outreach conducted by Mezu International Foundation
(MIF) in rural South-Eastern Nigeria noted a high prevalence of
childhood anemia associated with severe malnutrition and chronic
illness. This study seeks to determine the prevalence of anemia in
children less than five years of age and identify modifiable
socioeconomic and health risk factors associated with anemia.
Methods:
A cross-sectional study was done on 35 randomly selected children under
5 years old, at the MIF medical outreach following Institutional Review
Board approval from a collaborating local institution, Federal
University of Technology, Owerri, Imo State, Nigeria. A questionnaire
was administered to caregivers addressing socio-economic status (SES),
dietary iron intake, and knowledge of anemia. Participants received
detailed medical exams by licensed physicians. Hemoglobin (Hgb) was
measured with a hemoglobinometer. Anemia was defined as a hemoglobin
less than 11.0 g/dl, with severity of anemia stratified as mild
(10.0-10.9 g/dl), moderate (7.0-9.9 g/dl), and severe (<7.0 g/dl) per
WHO standards.
Findings: Out of 35 subjects, 12
male (34%) and 23 female (65%), fifty-four percent were anemic (17%
mild, n=6, 29% moderate, n=10, and 8.5% severe, n=3). Hgb (mean±SD) was
8.1±2.1 g/dl in children < 1 year old, (n=7), and 10.6±1.8 g/dl in
those 1-4 years old (n=28). There was a significant association between
age and diagnosis of anemia (P=0.02). All patients (100%) had a middle
SES score. Eighty-two percent of caregivers did not know the meaning of
anemia, and 94% did not know causes of anemia. There was a positive
correlation between hemoglobin levels and amount of dietary iron intake
(r=0.36, P=0.03). Thirty-four percent were currently breastfeeding (71%
< 1 year old); and there was a significant association between age
and breastfeeding (P=0.03).
Interpretation:
Despite middle-income status, families surveyed had poor knowledge of
anemia. Children with lower dietary iron intake and breastfed infants
less than 1 year old were more anemic than older children. An
educational program incorporating recommendations for sustainable local
iron-rich dietary options for both children and breastfeeding mothers
would aid in alleviating the burden of iron deficiency anemia in this
community.