Childhood anemia prevalence and associated factors in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil

• Autor(a) principal: Assis,Ana Marlúcia O.
• Data de Publicação: 2004
• Outros Autores: Barreto,Mauricio L., Gomes,Gecynalda Soares da Silva, Prado,Matildes da Silva, Santos,Nedja Silva dos, Santos,Leonor Maria Pacheco, Sampaio,Lílian Ramos, Ribeiro,Rita de Cássia, Oliveira,Lucivalda Pereira Magalhães de, Oliveira,Valterlinda Alves de
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Cadernos de Saúde Pública
• Texto Completo: http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S0102-311X2004000600022
• topic: Anemia; Preschool Child; Logistic Models

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1996 to estimate the prevalence of anemia in a stratified sample of 603 preschool children and identify factors associated with the disease. Hemoglobin assays were conducted in finger-prick blood samples using a Hemocue hemoglobinometer. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin below 11.0g/dl. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the potential associations. Observed anemia prevalence was 46.3%. Associated factors were: the 6-12-month and 12-24-month age brackets, the lowest tertiles for iron density and protein content dietary intake, and any degree of deficit in the height-for-age anthropometric parameter. Inadequate physical, sanitary, and environmental conditions in the home were associated with a significantly increased risk of anemia. Anemia constitutes an important health problem in this study's child population. Improvements in living conditions and dietary quality could contribute to a reduction in anemia prevalence.