Abstract:
Introduction: Anemia is one of the major public health problems affecting more than half of
school age children in developing countries. Anemia among children has been demonstrated in
many studies resulting in impaired cognitive and intellectual performance, motor development,
language development, and scholastic achievement.
Objectives: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of anemia among school-age children
in Filtu town, Somali region, South-East Ethiopia.
Methodology: A community based cross-sectional study was conducted between July and
August, 2013 in Filtu town. A total of 355 school age children between 5-15 years old were
included in the study. Sociodemographic data were obtained from each participant using pretested questionnaire. Hemoglobin was estimated using HemoCue 201+ photometer (HemoCue,
Angelholm, Sweden) analyzer and Anthropometric data of the children were taken. Intestinal
parasitosis determined by formol-ether concentration technique and both thick and thin blood
films for malaria parasites were performed. Descriptive statistical analysis, binary and multiple
logistic regression analysis were done using SPSS version16; P<0.05 was considered as
statistically significance.
Results: The prevalence of anemia was found to be 23.7% among school age children. Mild,
moderate and severe anemia was 74.5%, 24.3% and 1.2%, respectively. Morphologically, 58.3%
were microcytic hypochromic anemia, 40.5% were normocytic normochromic anemia and 1.2%
was macrocytic anemia. Results of a multivariate analysis showed that, being stunted [OR=5.5,
95%CI=: 2.83,10.72, P<0.001], being underweight [OR=2.1, 95%CI: 1.06- 4.05, P=0.034],
infection with intestinal parasite [OR=3.0, 95%CI: 1.05-8.46, P= 0.040] and low family income
[OR=9.4, 95%CI: 2.88, 30.99, P<0.001] were the independent risk factors of anemia among
school age children.
Conclusion: The prevalence of anemia among school age children in Filtu town was 23.7%.
Stunting, underweight, intestinal parasite (Ascaris lumbricoides and Giardia lamblia) and low
family income were the predictors of anemia.
Recommendations: Awareness of the communities on role of nutrition on anemia and
interventions targeting both nutritional deficiencies and parasitic infections should be employed
