A Study On The Prevalence Of Anemia In Preschool Children Aged 6 To 60 Months
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Abstract
Background: Anemia is a significant global health issue, particularly among preschool children aged 6 to 60 months. Affecting nearly 25% of the world’s population, anemia has severe implications for cognitive development, physical growth, and immunity in children. Recent national surveys indicate a decline in anemia prevalence, attributed to improvements in public health, nutrition, and socioeconomic conditions. However, in developing countries, the condition remains multifactorial, with nutritional deficiencies, parasitic infections, and maternal health during pregnancy being primary contributors. Iron deficiency anemia remains the most common form, often treated with oral iron therapy.
Method: This prospective observational study was conducted at Deep Homoeopathic Clinic and Research Center, Uttar Pradesh, involving 372 children aged 6 to 60 months diagnosed with anemia. Children with a hemoglobin level below 11.0 g/dL were included, and blood samples were analyzed for hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels.
Result: The results showed that 13.9% of children had anemia, with 30.6% presenting with low ferritin levels, indicative of iron deficiency. Socioeconomic factors and nutrition were found to be major determinants of anemia prevalence, with children from lower socioeconomic classes being more affected. Despite the relatively low anemia prevalence in this study compared to other studies, iron deficiency was still significant.
Conclusion: Anemia remains a public health issue, with iron deficiency prevalent in this study. Nutritional status and socioeconomic factors were key contributors. Public health interventions like deworming and supplementation may have improved outcomes, but further studies with larger populations are needed to generalize these findings
Article Details
References
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