title: Prevalence of anemia in under five-year-old children in a children's hospital in Recife, Brazil.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anemia is a nutritional problem of global importance. It is estimated that at least one-third of the population has been at one time anemic.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of anemia and associated factors in patients of a children's hospital in Recife.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was developed involving 595 male and female children aged from 6 to 59 months old, who were hospitalized in 2007.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with a hemoglobin concentration less than 11 g/dL were considered anemic. The relationship between studied variables and anemia was evaluated by Poisson regression analysis. There was a 56.6% prevalence of anemia (95% CI: 46.6-54.6). Anemia was significantly correlated with low weight (Prevalence ratio - PR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.18-1.64), young age (PR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.57-2.56) and a diagnosis of acute lower respiratory disease (PR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.27-1.96).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The high prevalence of anemia suggests that it may contribute as a causal factor for hospitalization, especially because the period of hospitalization was short and the patient was likely to be anemic at the time of admission. This study stresses the importance of evaluating the overall nutritional status of patients, including their ingestion of microelements. This is especially important in children, because of their greater susceptibility to anemia. Measures directed at the prevention and control of anemia, including increased coverage of supplementation and fortification programs are strongly recommended.
authors.affiliation: Hospital Pediátrico Helena Moura, Recife, PE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosemary Ferreira
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.forename: Eliane Siqueira Campos
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: Emídio Cavalcanti
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: de Albuquerque
authors.forename: Ilma Kruze Grande
authors.initials: IK
authors.lastname: de Arruda
authors.forename: Alcides da Silva
authors.initials: Ada S
authors.lastname: Diniz
authors.forename: José Natal
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Figueroa
authors.forename: Ana Paula Campos
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Pereira
keywords: Anemia; Nutritional status; Prevalence; Risk factors