Anemia and undernutrition among preschool children in Uttar Pradesh, India
Awasthi, S.; Das, R.; Verma, T.; Vir, S.
Indian Pediatrics 40(10): 985-990
2003
ISSN/ISBN: 0019-6061 PMID: 14581738 Document Number: 552938
This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of anaemia among preschool children (3-5 years) and its association with malnutrition in rural Barabanki district of Uttar Pradesh, India. Three of 18 subcentres in Nindura block, Barabanki, each with six villages, were randomly selected for this survey and 654 boys and 546 girls were included. Mean haemoglobin level in g/dl among boys and girls was 10.1 (SD: 1.66) and 9.9 (SD: 1.67) (P<0.06), respectively. The proportion of anaemic children (Hb <11 g/dl) was 70%. Boys were heavier and taller as compared to girls. Among the 67.3% underweight children the mean haemoglobin level was 9.85 (SD: 1.67) as compared to 10.39 (SD: 1.62) in those without malnutrition (P<0.0001). Likewise, stunted children (87.6%) had statistically significantly lower mean haemoglobin levels than those not stunted. The odds ratio of an underweight and stunted child having moderate to severe anaemia was 1.66. While more than half caretakers knew about the term "anaemia" and associated physical weakness with it, only very few (2.5%) knew that iron intake will improve it. They relied on "doctors" (86.7%) for anaemia prevention.