The Prevalence of Anemia and Associated Factors among Children under 5 years in Zakho City, Kurdistan Region, Iraq

Abstract

Background : Anaemia is a lower concentration of haemoglobin and red blood cells. Nearly 1.62 billion individuals worldwide suffer from anaemia, of which approximately 47% are preschool-aged children. Anaemia due to iron deficiency can be prevented by breast-feeding, taking formula with iron, avoiding cow's milk till the child reaches the age of one year, and including iron-rich foods in the diet. Objectives : The primary aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anaemia and associated factors in children under the age of five who were admitted to Zakho General Hospital. Methods : A cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2022 to February 2023 among children under 5 years in Zakho city. 1404 children were recruited in this study, and the ages ranged from six months to five years. A spectrophotometric method is typically used to assess anaemia by measuring the haemoglobin (Hb) concentration. Results : The children that participated in this study were 1404, ages 6 months to 60 months (23.01± 14.77). Age and anaemia were significantly correlated (p-value <0.01), with a higher prevalence of anaemia in younger age groups. In children aged 6 months to less than 24 months, the history of breast-feeding was significantly correlated with anaemia; 164 (59%) of the 278 children with a history of breast-feeding had anaemia (p-value <0.0001). Anaemia and meat consumption were significantly correlated (p-value= 0.007). The frequency of egg intake, the size of the family, and the level of the mother's education had no effect on anaemia. Conclusion : Among children under the age of five, particularly those under two, anaemia is disturbingly widespread, according to our study. As a result, enhanced nutritional therapy and a robust public health education campaign may assist in reducing the prevalence of this hematologic health concern. Additionally, it was shown that a history of breast-feeding and a limited meat diet are the two most significant risk factors for anaemia.