PREVALENCE OF ANEMIA AMONG CHILDREN UNDER 5 YEARS

Anwar Mohammed Jasim*

ABSTRACT

Background: Anemia is one of the most common diseases affecting children in general. Aims: to identify the prevalence of anemia cases among children under 5 years old and, the factors are associated with anemia under 5 years. Method: A cross-sectional health facility-based study was conducted among children aged under five years attending at primary health center from November 2018 to end of February 2019. Convenient random sampling technique was used to select the study participants. Pretested and structured questionnaires were used to collect socioeconomic and demographic characteristics of the family and child, feeding practice and other risk factors by interviewing mother/caregivers of the child. Data were entered in computer by using SPSS statistical software (statistic package of social scientific) version 14.01 to obtain frequency tables and cross tabulation with figures to illustrate the results and X(chi-squares) for analytic and with p value .0.05 has indicator for significant. Results: The highest frequency of anemic cases 24% still in the age groups 1 years, followed by 22% in the ages 2-3 years and the lowest frequency13% in the 4 years old. 22% of samples had a weight range from 0 to 9 kg, 54% of mothers had using the food for child eating, 77% of mothers had a normal delivery , 52% of mothers had not complication during the pregnancy stage . Highly significant relationship has been found between the mothers age groups and complication p=0.000. Conclusion: Higher rate of children with anemia still in the age 1 year old. Eating foods to child is common. Type of delivery were normal are common. Education to parents and health education to the community are also important strategies to reduce the burden of anaemia. Consumer education is also recommended to encourage the use of diversified diets including iron-rich foods and fruits that contain vitamin C that enhances iron absorption.

Keywords: Anemia, children, age, under 5, identify, delivery.