title: Pediatric anemia in rural Ghana: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess anemia prevalence and identify associated parameters in children <3 years of age in a rural area of Ghana.
  
  
  METHODS
  Univariate and multivariate logistic regression of cross-sectional survey results from 861 children aged <3 years attending routine immunization services in Berekum district.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Anemia prevalence was 73.1%; most were either mildly (31.2%) or moderately (38.7%) affected. Risk factors for anemia (hemoglobin < 11.0 g/dl) in multivariate analysis were malaria parasitemia and male sex; these factors and younger age were associated with anemia severity. A partial defect in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was associated with decreased severity. Height-for-age, but not weight-for-age, was associated with anemia and its severity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Malaria parasitemia was strongly associated with anemia and its severity, suggesting that malaria control may be the most effective way to reduce the burden of anemia in rural Ghanaian children.
authors.affiliation: Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Ghana Health Service, Accra, GhanaSchool of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USADepartments of Pediatrics and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USA.
authors.forename: Kelley M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: VanBuskirk
authors.affiliation: Policy Planning Monitoring and Evaluation Division, Ghana Health Service, Accra, Ghana.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ofosu
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
authors.forename: Amy
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kennedy
authors.affiliation: Departments of Pediatrics and Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 98115, USA ddenno@uw.edu.
authors.forename: Donna M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Denno
mesh_terms: D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005869:Ghana / Q000453:epidemiology; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D016015:Logistic Models; D008288:Malaria / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D018512:Parasitemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
chemical_list: D006454:Hemoglobins
keywords: Ghana; anemia; children; hemoglobin; hemoglobinopathy; malaria