title: Anaemia in schoolchildren in eight countries in Africa and Asia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To report on the haemoglobin concentrations and prevalence of anaemia in schoolchildren in eight countries in Africa and Asia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected during surveys of the health of schoolchildren as a part of programmes to develop school-based health services.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rural schools in Ghana, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mali, Mozambique, Tanzania and Vietnam.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nearly 14 000 children enrolled in basic education in three age ranges (7-11 years, 12-14 years and > or =15 years) which reflect the new UNICEF/WHO thresholds to define anaemia.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anaemia was found to be a severe public health problem (defined as >40% anaemic) in five African countries for children aged 7-11 years and in four of the same countries for children aged 12-14 years. Anaemia was not a public health problem in the children studied in the two Asian countries. More boys than girls were anaemic, and children who enrolled late in school were more likely to be anaemic than children who enrolled closer to the correct age. The implications of the four new thresholds defining anaemia for school-age children are examined.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anaemia is a significant problem in schoolchildren in sub-Saharan Africa. School-based health services which provide treatments for simple conditions that cause blood loss, such as worms, followed by multiple micronutrient supplements including iron, have the potential to provide relief from a large burden of anaemia.
authors: Scientific Coordinating Centre, Partnership for Child Development, Wellcome Trust Centre for the Epidemiology of Infectious Disease, Oxford University, South Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3FY, UK. ahall@hkidhaka.org
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Hall
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Bobrow
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Brooker
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Jukes
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Nokes
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Lambo
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Guyatt
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Bundy
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Adjei
authors: S T
authors: ST
authors: Wen
authors: Satoto
authors: H
authors: H
authors: Subagio
authors: M Z
authors: MZ
authors: Rafiluddin
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Miguel
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Moulin
authors: J
authors: J
authors: de Graft Johnson
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Mukaka
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Roschnik
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Sacko
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Zacher
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Mahumane
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Kihamia
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Mwanri
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Tatala
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Lwambo
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Siza
authors: L N
authors: LN
authors: Khanh
authors: H H
authors: HH
authors: Khoi
authors: N D
authors: ND
authors: Toan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D000367:Age Factors; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001210:Asia, Southeastern / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012423:Rural Health; D012574:Schools; D012737:Sex Factors
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins