Magnitude, Associated Factors and Morphological Types of Anemia Among Hospitalized 6–59 Months Age Children at Jimma Medical Center, Southwest Ethiopia – A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background

Anemia is among the major public health problems that cause significant morbidity and mortality among children around the world. Anemia in children of age 6 months to 5 years is a major health problem in most developing world countries with estimated prevalence of about 43%.

Objective

To determine the magnitude, associated factors and morphological types of anemia among hospitalized 6–59 months age children from June 15 to October 15, 2022 at Jimma Medical Center, southwest Ethiopia.

Methodology

Hospital-based cross- sectional study design was conducted from June 15 to October 15, 2022 at Jimma Medical Center, involving 383 hospitalized children aged 6–59 months by employing convenient sampling technique. Data of sociodemographic characteristics and other associated factors of the study individuals waere collected using a pre-structured questionnaire. Clinical data were collected by physical examination and from history of client by medical interns and nurses. Then 3 mL venous blood was collected and analyzed for complete blood count. Data were coded, cleared and entered into EpiData version 4.6 and exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Bivariable and multivariable binary logistic regression was used to identify associated factors.

Results

The overall prevalence of anemia among hospitalized 6–59 months age children was 57.2%; out of them 30.82% were moderate. In the present study children with malaria infection, AOR = 1.15 (95% CI: 0.017, 0.781), Cchildren with severe malnutrition, AOR = 2.046 (95% CI: 0.306, 1.366), and children with low family income, AOR = 2.6 (95% CI 0.475, 0.894) were independent variables associated with anemia.

Conclusion and Recommendation

Anemia among study participants is found to be a severe public health problem. Based on this finding, more intervention is needed with health education on nutrition and child feeding.

Keywords:

• anemia
• magnitude
• 6–59 months
• morphological types
• southwest Ethiopia

Abbreviations

ANC, Antenatal care; AOR, adjusted odds ratio; CBC, complete blood count; CD, chronic disease; CHr, reticulocyte hemoglobin content; CI, confidence interval; COR, crude odds ratio; CSA, central statistics agency; EDHS, Ethiopia demographic health survey; EDTA, Ethylenediaminetetra acetic acid; HFIAS*, Household food insecurity access scale; Hgb, hemoglobin; IRB, institutional review board; JMC, Jimma Medical Center; MCV, mean corpuscular volume; MUAC, mid-upper arm circumference; NACS, Nutrition Assessment; Counseling, and Support; RBC, red blood cell; SAM, severe acute malnutrition; SCD, sickle cell disease; SOP, standard operation procedure; SSA, sub-Saharan Africa; UTI, urinary tract infection; WHO, World Health Organization.

Data and Materials

The necessary data analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author when requested.

Ethical Considerations

The study was conducted following the Declaration of Helsinki and an approved ethical clearance was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of the Jimma University Institute of Health under Ref. No. IHPPGJ/837, permission to conduct the study was obtained from the Head of School of Medical Laboratory Science and chief clinical director of the JMC. A support letter from Jimma University Health Science Research Coordinating Office was written to JMC. After discussing the research aims to each participant’s mother, parents, or guardians, they was asked to sign an informed written consent and assent form, and those who were willing to participate were included in the study. Participation was fully voluntarily, refusal at any time during data collection was permitted. Confidentiality was kept. Any abnormal test results of participants were communicated to their attending physician immediately to make proper management and treatment.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to extend their gratitude to Jimma Medical Center, pediatrics department staff, intern students (Dr.), laboratory staff and all study participants for their willingness to participate in this study.

This manuscript was prepared from thesis entitled, “Magnitude, associated factors and morphological types of anemia among hospitalized 6–59 months age children at Jimma medical center”, southwest Ethiopia, (authors Regassa Alemu (candidate), Dr. Tilahun Yemane (advisor) and Mr. Gebeyaw Arega (advisor). All of the data, results, and information in this manuscript are taken from the mentioned research. https://repository.ju.edu.et//handle/123456789/7907.

Disclosure

The authors have declared that they have no existing competing interests in this work.

Additional information

Funding

No funding was received for this study.