1. Contacts: 0721 911 790 ; edwinosenogudu@gmail.com
Burden of anaemia among children aged months at Alupe Sub-County Hospital Busia, Kenya in 2015 – 2016 Gudu.E.1, Kiilu C.2, Omballa V.3 1 Alupe Sub County-Hospital, 2Moi University 3KEMRI-Center for Global Health Research
Background
Results
Anaemia is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among children aged 6-59 months.
World Health Organization (WHO) states that it is a problem of global health concern that affects persons both in developing and developed countries.
We conducted a study to characterize the disease burden of anaemia in children aged months.
Of the 497 participants, 50.3% (250/497) were female
The mean haemoglobin level was 8.9g/dl (SD 2.5; 95% CI 8.7 – 9.1)
Majority of the children had anaemia (79.9% (397/497); 95% CI 76.1 – 83.2)
Males were more likely to have anaemia (OR 1.30; 95% CI 0.83, 2.03; p 0.25)
Among those with anaemia:
Moderate anaemia - 52% (207/397)
Severe anaemia - 28% (111/397)
mild anaemia % (78/397)
Microcytic, hypochromic anaemia accounted for 71% (75/106)
Children with normocytic normochromic blood indices accounted for 8% (8/106)
MCH
MCV
Hyperchromic
Hypochromic
Normochromic
Total
Macrocytic 1% 0%
Microcytic
71% 6%
77%
Normocytic
13% 8%
22% 3%
84%
100%
Methods
Study Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study
Study site: Alupe sub-county Hospital, Busia County
Study period: May July 2016
Check Haemoglobin and Full haemogram laboratory records were reviewed.
Anemia was classified based on severity and red blood cell indices and the level of severity of anaemia was based on World Health Organization (WHO) classification.
The necessary haemoglobin (Hb) level adjustments for altitude (1,200m above sea level) were made as recommended by WHO.
Data was analyzed using Microsoft Excel® 2013 and Openepi® software.
Table 2: Distribution of participants based on MCV and MCH
Conclusion
Classification
Female
Male
< 7 g/dl (Severe) n = 115
48%
52%
g/dl (Moderate) n=196
49%
51%
g/dl (Mild) n=90
≥ 11 g/dl (No anaemia) n=96
56%
44%
 Total n=497
50.3%
49.7%
The level of public health significance of anaemia is severe among the children in this age group with males more affected than females
Microcytic hypochromic anemia is the leading type of anemia
Studies on underlying factors in this population are necessary to advice on appropriate interventional strategies
Table 1: Distribution of participants based on presence or absence of anaemia
Contacts: ;