Saad Javed, Razia Chaudhry.
Burden of anemia and its determinants among children under five years (6-59 months) of age in Tahsil Kot Radha Kishen Distt. Kasur Punjab.
J Fatima Jinnah Med Coll Lahore Jan ;2(2):65-70.

Objectives: To find out the burden of anemia and its determinants among children of age 6 to 59 months, in above mentioned Tahsil and to build recommendations for its prevention and control. Study Design: Cross-sectional epidemiological survey. Study settings and duration: Noor Hospital Kot Radha Kishen and West Surgical Ward Mayo Hospital Lahore, from June 2007 to March 2008. Subjects and Methods: A cross- sectional survey was conducted among 200 children of 6-59 months of age from 10 Union councils of Tahsil Kot Radha Kishen District Kasur Punjab, selected by multi stage cluster random sampling technique. The catchment population comprised mainly of farmers, industrial workers, laborers, low scale business men and few office workers. Most of the population comprised of low socio-economic groups. Hemoglobin concentration was measured from capillary blood using a portable photometer and background information about determinants of anemia was collected through a structured questionnaire, respondents being the mothers of children under study. The data analysis was done using a statistical package (SPSS) & Epi-info version 6.0. Chi-square test for comparison between groups was under taken. In all statistical analysis only p-value < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: One hundred and eighty eight (94 %) children in the study were anemic (Hemoglobin level between 7-10.9 gm/dl), with mean hemoglobin 9 gm/dl. Anemia was equally distributed among all 3 age groups in which the children were divided. Regarding gender of the children the mean hemoglobin level among 118 (59%) male subjects was 9.006 gm/dl and among 41% female subjects the 8.82 gm/dl having no significant difference. Inspite of timely weaning (68%) among children 6-12 m. of age, 64 % were anemic (p=0.6). Socio-demographic and economic factors as education and occupation of mothers & fathers, family members and monthly income of the family were significantly associated with anemia. Only 17 % of the subjects had daily use of 1st class protein (egg & meat), 59 % had weekly and rest 24 % had occasional use of these proteins, showing significant relationship with anemia. Number of diarrheal episodes, acute respiratory infections, worm infestation and history of fever with rigors were also significantly associated with anemia (p=0.002, 0.04 & 0.003) respectively. Conclusion: High burden of anemia among children in this community is a public health problem. Its identification and analysis in relation to its determinants requires active and remedial intervention strategies for improving the hemoglobin concentration and nutritional status of these children, thereby, help to reduce the morbidity and mortality rate.

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