Prevalence and Associated Risk Factors of Anaemia in Children Aged Six Months to Fifteen Years Admitted to University Teaching Hospital, Lusaka, Zambia

Background: Anaemia is a public health problem globally affecting 293.1 million children and 28.5% of these children are in sub-Saharan Africa. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anaemia and the associated risk factors of anaemia in children aged 6 months to 15 years admitted to the University Teaching Hospital. There have been no studies done at University Teaching Hospital to establish the burden of anaemia in children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2016 to December 2016. 351 children were recruited through convenient sampling methods. Data collection sheet was used to collect socio-demographic and anthropometry data. The prevalence, associated risk factors of anaemia, and morphological types of anaemia were determined after blood investigations were done. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 21.0. The association between predictors and outcome variables were measured using logistic regression and bivariate analysis. Ethical permission was obtained, consent from parents/guardians was taken and confidentiality was maintained. Results: A total of 351 children were studied. The mean age was 3 years (IOR 2-7 years). 45.9% were females and 54.1% were males (P=0.12). The mean cell volume was 74. 5fL.Malnourished children were 37.9% among those who were anaemic as compared to 33.7% in the non-anaemic group. 7.4% of children had positive malaria by rapid diagnostic test (RDT). 23.8% had a positive sickling test. The prevalence of anaemia was 161/351 (45.9%). Mild, moderate, severe anaemia was 47/161(29%), 86/161(53%) and 28/161(17%) respectively. The age group 6 months to 5 years was the most affected with 59% mildly, 69.8% moderately and 71.4% severely anaemic. On bivariate analysis malnutrition, HIV, malaria, age and sex were not associated with anaemia and there was no statistical difference. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of haemoglobin S was the only risk factor independently strongly associated with Anaemia (CI-0.2-0.7), p-value of 0.001. Conclusion: Anaemia is a health problem at University Teaching hospital and the under-five age group is the most affected. Predictors of mild, moderate and severe anaemia is sickle cell disease. Therefore, improving on early screening of sickle cell disease and investigating the role of iron deficiency anaemia are some of the strategies to be advocated.