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. 2011;33(2):100-4.
doi: 10.5581/1516-8484.20110028.

Prevalence of anemia in under five-year-old children in a children's hospital in Recife, Brazil

Rosemary Ferreira Dos Santos  1 , Eliane Siqueira Campos Gonzalez, Emídio Cavalcanti de Albuquerque, Ilma Kruze Grande de Arruda, Alcides da Silva Diniz, José Natal Figueroa, Ana Paula Campos Pereira
Affiliations

Prevalence of anemia in under five-year-old children in a children's hospital in Recife, Brazil

Rosemary Ferreira Dos Santos et al. Rev Bras Hematol Hemoter. 2011.

Abstract

Introduction: Anemia is a nutritional problem of global importance. It is estimated that at least one-third of the population has been at one time anemic.

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of anemia and associated factors in patients of a children's hospital in Recife.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was developed involving 595 male and female children aged from 6 to 59 months old, who were hospitalized in 2007.

Results: Children with a hemoglobin concentration less than 11 g/dL were considered anemic. The relationship between studied variables and anemia was evaluated by Poisson regression analysis. There was a 56.6% prevalence of anemia (95% CI: 46.6-54.6). Anemia was significantly correlated with low weight (Prevalence ratio - PR = 1.39; 95% CI: 1.18-1.64), young age (PR = 2.01; 95% CI: 1.57-2.56) and a diagnosis of acute lower respiratory disease (PR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.27-1.96).

Conclusion: The high prevalence of anemia suggests that it may contribute as a causal factor for hospitalization, especially because the period of hospitalization was short and the patient was likely to be anemic at the time of admission. This study stresses the importance of evaluating the overall nutritional status of patients, including their ingestion of microelements. This is especially important in children, because of their greater susceptibility to anemia. Measures directed at the prevention and control of anemia, including increased coverage of supplementation and fortification programs are strongly recommended.

Keywords: Anemia; Nutritional status; Prevalence; Risk factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict-of-interest disclosure: The authors declare no competing financial interest

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Distribution of hemoglobin concentrations in children hospitalized in the Hospital Pediátrico Helena Moura in 2007
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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