title: [Prevalence and determinants of anemia in young children in French-speaking Africa. Role of iron deficiency].
abstract: Anemia and iron deficiency are major public health issues worldwide and particularly in Africa. Reliable information about their prevalence and associated factors is required to allow for effective actions. In this study, we used data from recent (2006-2012) large population health surveys, carried out in 11 French-speaking African countries (Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Congo Brazzaville, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Guinea, Mali, Niger, Democratic Republic of Congo, and Senegal). Hemoglobin (Hb) was assessed and demographic and health-related parameters were obtained from nation-representative samples of children aged 6-59 months. Anemia (Hb<11g/dL) was found in 72.4% of the children (60.2-87.8%), with no gender difference but a slightly lower incidence in older children (62% at age 4-5 years versus 85% at age 9 months), especially for the more severe forms (2.1% versus 8.7%, respectively). Anemia was only slightly but significantly affected by location (75.5% in rural areas versus 67.3% in towns), income (79.8% in lower quintile of income versus 62.3% in higher quintile), or maternal education (74.1% in children from non-educated mothers versus 62.4% in children whose mothers had secondary education). Nearly 50% of women of child-bearing age had anemia. In the countries that report this information, less than 50% (17-65%) of children consumed iron-rich foods regularly and only 12% (7.4-20.5%) received iron supplementation. Infection and parasitism are known to affect some markers of iron status, because of the inflammatory reaction, thereby making the diagnosis of iron deficiency difficult. In the study countries, acute respiratory diseases and diarrhea affected 6.2 and 15.6% of children aged between 6 and 59 months, respectively; their distribution according to age and location is very different from the one of anemia, which is also the case for the distribution of malaria. It is thus likely that a large part of the anemia observed in young children is due to iron deficiency, although further research is needed to confirm this. This fully justifies the nationwide programs of iron fortification of flour, currently undergoing in most countries of French-speaking Africa. Their formal evaluation is still pending but the initial data suggest some efficacy, although far from optimal. It is thus likely that a more holistic approach, including iron fortification, actions against undernutrition and parasitism in children, and actions in favor of improving young women's iron and nutritional status, together with appropriate communication and education objectives, would be more effective.
authors.affiliation: Institut de pédiatrie, université Cheikh Anta Diop, BP 5593, Dakar, Sénégal.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Diouf
authors.affiliation: Service de pédiatrie, CHU Cocody, université Houphouet Boigny, 25 BP 567, Abidjan 25, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Folquet
authors.affiliation: Biochimie et nutrition humaine, université de Bamenda, BP 516, Bamenda, Cameroun.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mbofung
authors.affiliation: Service de pédiatrie et néonatologie, CHU Abass Ndao, université Cheikh Anta Diop, BP 15872, Dakar, Sénégal.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ndiaye
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de nutrition et sécurité alimentaire, université Nangui Abrogoua, 02 BP 801, Abidjan 02, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Brou
authors.affiliation: Service des explorations digestives et fonctionnelles, hôpital Necker, 149, rue de Sèvres, 75015 Paris, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dupont
authors.affiliation: Recherche et développement, Danone Nutricia Africa & Overseas - Cocody, 2, plateaux Valllons, 28 BP 651, Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: N'dri
authors.affiliation: Danone Nutricia Africa & Overseas, 383, rue Philippe-Héron, 69653 Villefranche-sur-Saône cedex, France.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vuillerod
authors.affiliation: VAB-nutrition, 1, rue Claude-Danziger, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France. Electronic address: veronique.braesco@vab-nutrition.com.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Azaïs-Braesco
authors.affiliation: Université de Yaoundé, BP 2036, Yaoundé, Cameroun.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tetanye
mesh_terms: D000349:Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D005527:Food, Fortified; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income; D007223:Infant; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population
chemical_list: D019266:Iron, Dietary