Anemia among preschool children

Abstract

Objective: study aims to detect anemia among preschool children and find out the relationship between some variables like (child gender, number of children in the family, ordinal position of the child in the family, parent's education level, mother's occupation, type of the family, child's weight and height, regular diet in take, hookworm, pica, father's job and family monthly income) with anemia.

Methodology: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted at the primary health care centers in Al-Sadder city for the period of 1st July 2011 to the 1st November 2011. Non probability (purposive) sample of (140) children who aged preschool and who attended to primary health care centers of Al-Sadder city. The data were collected through using special constructed questionnaire designed, which comprises two parts. Part one consists of child's demographic characteristics filled by using interview technique and part of two consist hemoglobin level.
The reliability of the questionnaire was determined through a pilot study and the validity through a panel of experts.
The data were analyzed through the application of descriptive statistic frequency, percentage, and the application of inferential statistical procedures, which include Pearson correlation coefficient and chi-square.

Results: The results of the study indicated that (66%) of children have anemia and (64%) of them have mild to moderate anemia. Moreover, there is no significant association between anemia in preschool children and their (child's gender, number of children in family, ordinal position of children, parent's education level, mother's occupation , type of the family, child's weight and height, regular diet in take, and pica and drug intake. However, significant relationship is found between anemic child and their father's job, hookworm infection and family monthly income. 

Recommendations: application of screening program for anemia, especially children at pre-school age and increase community awareness about the dangers of anemia in children