Prevalence and predictors of anemia among children under 5 years of age in Arusha District, Tanzania

Figures & data

Table 1 Children’s characteristics in relation to anemia status

Variables	Subjects (n)	% with anemia	p-value
Gender
Female	194	81.4	0.09
Male	242	87.2
Age (months)
6–11	116	86.2	0.9
12–23	163	85.3
24–35	108	83.3
36–59	49	81.6
Morbidity
Not ill	142	82.4	0.3
With illness	294	85.7
Type of diseasea
Diarrhea	66	84.8	0.07
Fever	51	74.5
Cough	25	92
Multiple diseases	150	88.7
Exclusively breastfed status
Yes	70	80.0	0.2
No	366	85.5
Birth weight
Normal weight (>2.5 kg)	224	79.0	0.00*
Low birth weight (<2.5 kg)	212	90.6
Occupation of the household head
Employed	50	96	0.02*
Farmer	247	81.4
Pastoralist	76	90.8
Self-employed	63	81
Marital status of mother
Single	44	90.9	0.2
Married	392	83.9
Mother’s age (years)
15–24	213	86.9	0.4
25–34	197	82.2
Above 34	26	84.6
Residence (community names)
Oldonyosambu	159	76.1	<0.001*
Seliani	150	86.7
Oturumeti	127	92.9

Notes:

a Multiple response if the child had two or more diseases (diarrhea, fever, or cough);

* p<0.05.

Table 2 Association of anemia and feeding habits

Variable	Subjects (n)	% with anemia	p-value
Meat
Consumed	55	50.9	0.00*
Not consumed	381	89.5
Beans
Consumed	380	83.6	0.2
Not consumed	56	90.5
Milk
Consumed	377	86.4	0.09
Not consumed	56	73.3
Vegetable
Consumed	261	80.5	0.00*
Not consumed	175	90.9
Fruits
Consumed	8	37.5	0.00*
Not consumed	428	88.5
Loshoroa
Consumed	346	84.4	0.7
Not consumed	90	85.6
Kiderib
Consumed	365	84.9	0.8
Not consumed	71	83.0
Composite porridge
Consumed	284	84.2	0.7
Not consumed	152	85.5
Tea with sugar
Do not drink	21	52.4	0.00*
Drink	415	86.3

Notes:

a Local foods cooked from maize and with mixed sour milk;

b mashed banana mixed with sour milk;

* p<0.05.

Table 3 Determinants of childhood anemia

Variable	N	Anemia (%)	COR	p-value	AOR	p-value
Birth weight
Normal (>2.5 kg)	224	79.0	1		1
Low (<2.5 kg)	212	90.6	2.5 (1.5–4.5)	0.01*	2.1 (1.1–3.8)	0.02*
Child age
Less than 2 years	291	84.5	1		1
Above 2 years	145	84.8	1.0 (0.6–1.8)	0.9	1.4 (0.7–2.9)	0.4
Meat
Consumed	55	50.9	1		1
Not consumed	381	89.5	8.2 (4–15)	<0.001*	6.4 (3.2–12.9)	<0.001*
Beans
Consumed	380	83.6	1
Not consumed	56	90.5	1.9 (0.8–4.5)	0.2
Milk
Not consumed	56	73.3	1		1
Consumed	377	86.4	2.3 (1.2–4.4)	0.01*	2.5 (1.1–5.2)	0.02*
Vegetable
Consumed	261	80.5	1		1
Not consumed	175	90.9	2.4 (1.3–4.4)	<0.001*	2.1 (1.1–4.1)	0.03*
Fruits
Consumed	8	37.5	1		1
Not consumed	428	85.5	9.8 (2.3–42.2)	<0.001	2.8 (0.5–14)	0.2
Tea with sugar
Do not drink	21	52.4	1		1
Drink	415	86.3	5.7 (2.3–14.0)	<0.001*	4.5 (1.5–13.7)	<0.001*
Residence
Oldonyosambu	159	76.1	1		1
Seliani	150	86.7	2.0 (1.1–3.7)	0.02*	1.6 (0.8–3.3)	0.2
Oturumeti	127	92.3	4.1 (1.9–8.9)	0.00*	2.2 (0.9–5.2)	0.06

Notes: Variables in the model were controlled for gender and age of the children;

* p<0.05.

Abbreviations: AOR, adjusted odds ratio; COR, crude odds ratio.