Anemia in Sakon Nakhon Province
Channgam, P.; Thumpenjit, S.; Koowatanasiri, P.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 82(6): 545-551
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 10443075 Document Number: 1383
The study of anemia in Sakon Nakhon province during the period of 1996-1997 was conducted by a multistage random sampling in a population aged 1-90 years in ten villages. The prevalence of anemia was 15.29 per cent (14.5 per cent in children under 15 years, 14.4 per cent between 15-60 years and 34.3 per cent in those over 60 years). The prevalence of anemia in males and females was not statistically different. The mean level of hematocrit and hemoglobin was 39.9 +/- 4.6 per cent and 13.2 +/- 1.4 g. per cent. About 28.3 per cent of the studied population had undernutrition. This finding showed that the nutritional status could be statistically linked to anemia, while parasitic infestation had no effect on the rate of anemia, most probably the worm load in the cases infected was rather low. Nutritional anemia and thalassemia are also common causes of anemia in Sakon Nakhon. Thus, we proposed that the public health programme should focus on preventive activities to reduce thalassemia hemoglobinopathy and the rate of undernutrition to solve the problem of anemia in Thailand.
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