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. 2025 Jan 11;25(1):26.
doi: 10.1186/s12887-024-05377-8.

Prevalence and contributors to anaemia among children aged 6 to 59 months in Kyangwali Refugee settlement, Western Uganda: a cross-sectional study

Christine Nakimera  1 , Philip Bright Bwajojo  2 , William Kaweesa  3 , Joan Nampiima  3 , Faith Chebet  3 , Sharifah Namuwawu  3 , Martin Bwemage  4 , Moses Nuwabasa  5 , Regina Ndagire  6 , Allan Lugaajju  7 , Joel Tumwebaze  1 , Catherine Nassozi Lwanira  8   9
Affiliations

Prevalence and contributors to anaemia among children aged 6 to 59 months in Kyangwali Refugee settlement, Western Uganda: a cross-sectional study

Christine Nakimera et al. BMC Pediatr. .

Abstract

Background: Anaemia is a major cause of morbidity among children under five years in Uganda. However, its magnitude among refugee populations is marginally documented. In this study, the prevalence and contributors to anaemia among children 6 to 59 months in Kyangwali refugee settlement in Western Uganda was determined.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that was carried out among 415 mother- child dyads at Kwangwali refugee settlement. Anaemia was determined by measuring haemoglobin concentration using the HaemoCue method, while nutritional status was examined using standard World Health Organisation (WHO) nutritional indices. Data abstraction forms, pretested questionnaires and face to face interviews were used to collect patient data. Associations between the independent variables and anaemia were examined using modified Poisson regression with robust standard errors. In all statistical tests, a P- value of < 0.05 was considered as significant.

Results: The proportion of children with anaemia was 49.2% (95% CI: 44.4-53.9). Anaemia was 1.4 times (95% CI = 1.13-1.82; p = 0.003) more prevalent among wasted children than the normal children. The prevalence of anaemia was also higher among underweight children than those with normal weight (aPR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.11-1.70; p = 0.004). Additionally, the prevalence of anaemia was higher among children of birth order of 6 or above (aPR = 2.00, 95% CI = 1.22-3.29; p = 0.006), while anaemia prevalence was lower among children whose mothers' had attained secondary level of education (aPR = 0.19, CI = 0.04-0.98; p = 0.048) and those who fed on fish (aPR = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.57-0.99; p = 0.039) and meals prepared with oils and fats (aPR = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.51-0.97; p = 0.029). There was no significant relationship between anaemia occurrence and the household dietary diversity score.

Conclusions: About half of the study children were found to be anaemic. The most significant contributors to anaemia in the study population were malnutrition, maternal education, feeding practices and birth order. The study findings suggest need of screening of children for anaemia at all nutritional clinics, promotion of education, addressing barriers to sustainable food supply and accessibility of nutrient-dense foods, treating anaemia in children alongside other micronutrient deficiencies and addressing the nutritional needs of multiparous mothers in refugee communities.

Keywords: Anaemia; Refugee settlement; Uganda.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: The study was approved by Clarke International University Research and Ethics Committee (CLARKE − 2021 − 100) and the Community Integrated Development Initiative (CIDI). Informed consent to participate in the study was sought from all study mothers as they presented their children for health care during the young child clinic days. The privacy and confidentiality of study participants were maintained by using study identifiers. All methods were carried out in accordance with relevant guidelines and regulations. All sick children were managed at attendant health facilities following the Uganda national treatment guidelines [48]. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Map of Uganda showing the location of Kyangwali Refugee settlement (black box); Adapted from Nyakarahuka et al. [49],
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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