Does Anaemia Have Major Public Health Importance in Children Aged 6-59 Months in the Duggina Fanigo District of Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia?
BACKGROUND
Globally, a large number of children aged 6-59 months are affected by anaemia. In Ethiopia, like other developing countries, more than 40% of children under 5 years are affected by anaemia. Anaemia during infancy and childhood period is associated with poor health and impaired cognitive development, leading to reduced academic achievement and earning potential in their adult life. The aim of this research was to assess whether anaemia remained a major public health problem among children aged 6-59 months or not in Duggina Fanigo District of Wolaita Zone, South Ethiopia in 2016.


METHODOLOGY
A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from February to March 2016, on 404 mothers with children aged 6-59 months who were selected through the systematic sampling method. Socio-demographic and other data on associated factors was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. Capillary blood was taken from the fingertip of each child and hemoglobin was measured using Haemo-Cue digital photometer. All the necessary safety measures were taken during blood collection. Data analysis was made using SPSS version 21. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association of independent variables with outcome variables and to control the possible confounding factors.


RESULT
The overall prevalence of anaemia was 51.4%. Anaemia was common among young children as compared to older children. After controlling the effect of confounding and adjusting for age, gender and altitude, explanatory variables like low dietary diversity (AOR = 3.24; 95% CI [1.68-6.23]), food insecurity (AOR = 3.63; 95% CI [2.18-6.04]), stunting (AOR = 2.60; 95% CI [1.56-4.35]), underweight (AOR = 2.46; 95% CI [1.29-4.67]) and fever within 2 weeks (AOR = 2.49; 95% CI [1.29-4.81]) prior to the survey were significantly associated with anaemia. In conclusion, the overall prevalence of anaemia among children aged 6-59 months has remained a major public health importance in the study area. Integrated efforts need to be prioritized to improve the health as well as the nutritional status of children aged 6-59 months through appropriate feeding practices in infants and children.
['Tiku|Yohannes Samuel|YS|', 'Mekonnen|Tefera Chane|TC|', 'Workie|Shimelash Bitew|SB|', 'Amare|Endale|E|']
D000740:Anemia D002675:Child, Preschool D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D004032:Diet D005002:Ethiopia D005247:Feeding Behavior D005260:Female D006130:Growth Disorders D006801:Humans D007223:Infant D016015:Logistic Models D008297:Male D009749:Nutrition Surveys D009752:Nutritional Status D015995:Prevalence D011634:Public Health D012959:Socioeconomic Factors D013851:Thinness
Anaemia Children Southern Ethiopia Major public health problem