Anemia Prevalence and Risk Factors among Infants Al Waleedia Health Center, Assiut

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine -Cairo University

2 Ministry of Health, Assuit Governorate

3 Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Egypt

Abstract

Background: Anemia is one of micronutrient deficiencies which have serious public health significance in the world. In developing countries, it affects 46–66% of children aged less than five years. Several authors have demonstrated that children aged 6 to 24 months present greater vulnerability to anemia, iron deficiency anemia during this age leads to impairments in the cognitive and behavioral development and growth that persist even after treatment of iron deficiency. In Egypt few studies were done on this age group of infants and early children, even though the importance of this period. Objectives: This study aims at estimating the prevalence of anemia among children aging 12-24months in Al-Waleedia Health Center, Assiut city and to identify associated risk factors of anemia in young children. Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted on 322 child aged between 12 and 24months attended the healthy pediatric clinic at Al-Waleedia Health Center in Assiut city and their mothers. Interview questionnaire covering child and maternal characteristics was used. Results: Prevalence of anemia among the studied children was (41.6%), maternal anemia during pregnancy and lack of child supplementation with iron were the most significant risk factors associated with iron deficiency anemia in children Conclusion: Prevalence of iron deficiency anemia among children aging 12-24 months in Al-Waleedia Health Center, Assiut city was high and considered  a serious public health problem, according to the WHO global classification.

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