Anemia status and some associated risk factors in students 7-9 years old stunting and risk of stunting in Phu Binh district, Thai Nguyen province, 2017

Background: Malnutrition associated with micronutrient deficiency, especially anemia, is a common problem in developing countries. Objective: to identify anemia status and related factors in students 7-9 years old Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 717 children with stunting and risk of stunting in five elementary schools in Phu Binh district, Thai Nguyen province Result: The prevalence of anemia of the study subject was 23.7%, at a moderate level of public health significance. The averages of hemoglobin concentration of the stunted, underweight, and wasted child groups were not significantly different comparing to the normal one (p>0.05). The anemia status of the zinc deficiency group was 1.4 times higher than the normal group. The mean of hemoglobin concentration in the group with sub-clinical and marginal vitamin A deficiency and zinc deficiency was lower than in the normal group (p < 0.05) Conclusion: Anemia status is related to zinc and vitamin A deficiency status in children of elementary schools. Therefore, future prevention should be implemented simultaneously and in coordination with the improvement of micronutrients deficiency.