Peer-reviewed article
Anemia Prevalence and its Associated Risk Factors using Ten East African Countries: A Recent data from Demographic and Health Survey
Denekew Bitew Belay, Nigussie Adam Birhan, Tilahun Yemanu Birhan, Yegnanew A. Shiferaw, Ding-Geng Chen ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-sonnet-5This study looked at how common anemia is among young children in ten East African countries using health survey data collected between 2010 and 2023. Overall, more than half of children aged 6 to 59 months had anemia, with the highest rate in Tanzania and the lowest in Rwanda. The researchers found that anemia was linked to child nutrition problems like stunting and underweight, recent illnesses such as fever and diarrhea, and having an anemic mother. Protective factors included vitamin A supplementation, better maternal education, household wealth, and access to toilet facilities. The authors say more comprehensive efforts are needed to tackle both nutrition and social and environmental causes of childhood anemia in the region.
Key points
- Anemia prevalence in Eastern Africa was 54.26%, with Tanzania highest (70.32%) and Rwanda lowest (36.64%)
- Stunted and underweight children had higher odds of anemia (AOR 1.289 and 1.232 respectively)
- Having fever or diarrhea increased odds of anemia (AOR 1.410 and 1.066)
- Vitamin A supplementation was linked to lower anemia risk (AOR 0.899)
- Children with an anemic mother had much higher odds of anemia (AOR 1.844)
Limitations
The study is based on cross-sectional survey data, so it can show associations but not prove that these factors cause anemia; the specific list of all ten countries studied is not given in the abstract.
Abstract
Introduction: Anemia, defined as a low level of hemoglobin in the blood, is a sign of inadequate nutrition as well as poor health in children. It affects about 269 million (39.8%) children under the age of five worldwide and it is a significant risk factor for poor health and nutrition in children. The main aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and contributing factors of anemia among children aged 6–59 months in Eastern Africa. Methods: The research was conducted between 2010 and 2023 across ten East African countries. To identify potential factors associated with anemia, a multilevel logistic regression model was used. Results: The prevalence of anemia in Eastern Africa was 54.26%, with the highest in Tanzania (70.32%) and the lowest in Rwanda (36.64%). A multilevel multivariable logistic regression model revealed that factors like child age in months 12-23 (AOR = 0.623; 95% CI: 0.581-0.669), female (AOR = 0.914; 95% CI: 0.880-0.949), stunted (AOR =1.289; 95% CI: 1.234-1.347), underweight (AOR = 1.232; 95% CI: 1.163-1.306), two under-five children (AOR=1.068; 95% CI: 1.023- 1.116), 2-3 birth order (AOR=1.096; 95% CI:1.034-1.162), having fever (AOR=1.410; 95% CI: 1.343-1.481), having diarrhea (AOR=1.066; 95% CI: 1.009-1.125), vitamin A supplementation (AOR =0.899; 95% CI: 0.863-0.937), primary educated mother (AOR=0.819; 95% CI: 0.775-0.865), anemic mother (AOR =1.844; 95% CI: 1.768-1.923), toilet facility (AOR = 0.879; 95% CI = 0.835-0.926), middle wealth index (AOR =0.876; 95% CI: 0.830-0.925), mother had occupation (AOR=0.930;95%CI: 0.892-0.971) and high community poverty (AOR = 1.047; 95% CI: 1.006-1.089) were significantly associated with anemia in Eastern Africa. Conclusion: The prevalence of anemia among children aged 6–59 months was still high in the region, indicating a continuing public health concern. Child age, sex, nutritional status (stunting and underweight), recent illness (feverand diarrhea), maternal education, anemia status, and occupation, household wealth, toilet facilities, vitamin A supplementation, and community poverty levels have statistically significant association with anemia. These findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive interventions targeting both child nutrition and broader socio-economic and environmental determinants to effectively reduce the burden of anemia in the region.