Background: Anemia is a major health problem worldwide. Because of health and socioeconomic problems, the\nprevalence of anemia is higher in developing countries. Children and pregnant women are the most vulnerable\ngroups to anemia. The aim of the present study was to determine the magnitude of anemia among school children.\nMethods: A cross-sectional household survey was conducted in January 2011 on 423 children, aged 6ââ?¬â??14 years,\nselected through systematic random sampling method. Sociodemographic and anthropometric data were collected\nusing a pre-tested questionnaire. Capillary blood was taken from the fingertip of each child and hemoglobin was\nmeasured using HaemoCue digital photometer. All the necessary safety measures were taken during blood collection.\nAnthropometric indicators were measured using WHOââ?¬â?¢s guideline. Data analysis was made using SPSS Version 16.0 for\nWindows. The association between predictors and outcome variables were measured by a stepwise logistic regression\nmodel. Ethical permission was obtained; consent of the parents/guardian was taken and confidentiality was\nmaintained.\nResult: A total of 404 children were studied. The mean age was 10.21(SD Ã?± 1.89) years. The proportion of females\nwas 217(53.7%). The mean hemoglobin level for both sexes was 11.59(SD Ã?± 1.97 g/dl). The current prevalence of\nanemia was 152(37.6%), out of which, 73(18.1%) had mild while 79(19.6%) of them had moderate anemia. The\nprevalence of anemia among the age group of 6ââ?¬â??11 years was 118(40.5%) while the prevalence among the group\nof 12ââ?¬â??14 years old children was 34(30.1%). Among the selected variables in the logistic regression analysis, low\nfamily income [OR = 4.925, 95% CI(1.063,22.820)], mothersââ?¬â?¢ education [OR = 4.621, 95% CI(1.383,15.439)], intake of\nplant food [OR = 3.847, 95% CI(2.068, 7.157)] and intake of animal food [OR = 2.37, 95% CI(1.040,5.402)] were\nsignificantly and independently associated with anemia.\nConclusion: Anemia is a moderate public health problem in the study area. Family income, educational status of\nparents and inadequate plant and animal food intake are the predictors of anemia. Improving the economic status\nof the family, women education and health education about balanced animal and plant food consumption are\nrecommended strategies to reduce the burden of anemia.
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