Determinants of nutritional anaemia in children less than five years age

Background:  According to WHO, highest prevalence of anemia is found in pre-school aged children. The objective of this study was to determine demographic, socio-economic & nutritional factors for nutritional anemia in children <5 yrs. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of children aged 6 to 59 months. Hemoglobin, ferritin, folate, vitamin B12 levels were determined. Anthropometric measurements, nutritional intake, family income and other demographic data were recorded. Results:  Majority of cases (75.0%) were in 6months – 2 years age group. 139 (69.5%) subjects had iron deficiency, 86 (43.0%) had Vitamin B12 deficiency and 28 (14.0%) had folic acid deficiency. On multivariate regression the factors found to be associated were: increasing birth order, low iron intake & symptoms of anemia in mother. Conclusions:  Low iron intake, increasing birth order and symptoms of anemia in mother were significant factors associated with nutritional anemia in children less than 5 years age.