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. 2020 Sep 7:9:1102.
doi: 10.12688/f1000research.24707.3. eCollection 2020.

Prevalence and factors associated with anemia among children under five years of age in Rombo district, Kilimanjaro region, Northern Tanzania

Innocent B Mboya  1   2   3 , Redempta Mamseri  3 , Beatrice J Leyaro  1 , Johnston George  3 , Sia E Msuya  1   3 , Melina Mgongo  3
Affiliations

Prevalence and factors associated with anemia among children under five years of age in Rombo district, Kilimanjaro region, Northern Tanzania

Innocent B Mboya et al. F1000Res. .

Abstract

Background: Anemia is a severe public health problem affecting more than half of children under five years of age in low-, middle- and high-income countries. The study aimed to determine the prevalence and factors associated with anemia among children under five years of age in northern Tanzania. Methods: This community-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Rombo district, Kilimanjaro region, northern Tanzania, in April 2016. Multistage sampling technique was used to select a total of 602 consenting mothers and their children aged 6-59 months and interviewed using a questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Stata version 15.1. We used generalized linear models (binomial family and logit link function) with a robust variance estimator to determine factors associated with anemia. Results: Prevalence of anemia was 37.9%, and it was significantly higher among children aged 6-23 months (48.3%) compared to those aged 24-59 months (28.5%). There were no significant differences in anemia prevalence by sex of the child. Adjusted for other factors, children aged 6-23 months had over two times higher odds of being anemic (OR=2.47, 95% CI 1.73, 3.53, p<0.001) compared to those aged 24-59 months. No significant association was found between maternal and nutritional characteristics with anemia among children in this study. Conclusion: Prevalence of anemia was lower than the national and regional estimates, and it still constitutes a significant public health problem, especially among children aged 6-23 months. The study recommends iron supplementation, food fortification, dietary diversification, and management of childhood illnesses interventions for mothers and children under two years.

Keywords: Anemia; Tanzania; prevalence; risk factors; under five children.

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Conflict of interest statement

No competing interests were disclosed.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.. Schematic diagram showing the number of participants.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.. Prevalence of anemia by sex of the child (N=602).
Figure 3.
Figure 3.. Prevalence of anemia by age groups of children in months (N=602).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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