Maternal risk factors for childhood anaemia in Ethiopia.
A total of 8260 children between the ages of 6-59 months were analyzed to identify the risk factors associated with childhood anaemia in Ethiopia. The overall mean (SD/standard deviation) haemoglobin (Hgb) level among the under-five children was 10.7 (2.2) g/dl and 50.3% were anaemic. Childhood anaemia demonstrated an increasing trend with maternal anaemia levels of mild, moderate and severe anaemia: odds ratio of 1.82, 2.16 and 3.73 respectively (p< 0.01). Children whose mothers had no formal education were 1.38 times more likely to be anaemic (p<0.01). The poorest and poorer wealth index groups had 1.52 and 1.25 increased odds of childhood anaemia respectively (p< 0.01). Childhood anaemia in Ethiopia is a severe public health problem. Maternal anaemia and socio-economic status were found to be associated with anaemia in children. A holistic approach of addressing mothers and children is of paramount importance.
University of Botswana, School of Medicine. dereje.habte@gmail.com
Dereje
D
Habte
Kalid
K
Asrat
Mgaywa G M D
MG
Magafu
Ibrahim M
IM
Ali
Tadele
T
Benti
Wubeshet
W
Abtew
Girma
G
Tegegne
Dereje
D
Abera
Solomon
S
Shiferaw
D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008429:Maternal Welfare; D015995:Prevalence; D012923:Social Class