Prevalence of Anaemia and Associated Risk Factors among Children Under Five Years in Hohoe Municipality, Ghana

Background: The global estimate of anaemia in children indicates that 293.1 million children under five years (43%) are anaemic, of whom 28.5% are residing in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This study was set out to determine the prevalence of anaemia and its associated risk factors among children under five in Hohoe municipality, Ghana.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried in March 2016 at various Child Welfare Clinics (CWCs) using convenient and systematic sampling methods. Interviews with semi-structured questionnaires were used to obtain information on demographic, socio-economic, dietary and feeding practices of the children. Axillary temperature was measured using electronic thermometer and anthropometric measurements were done using bathroom weighing scale and Infantometer. Finger-prick blood samples were collected for blood film for malaria parasites, and haemoglobin level was measured using an automated Haemocue. Binary logistic regression was used to identify associated factors, odds ratio was used to access the strength of the association and t-test was used for means.

Results: A total of 400 children were sampled from ten CWCs. Insecticide Treated Net (ITN) usage was high, 69.0%; SP-IPTp and iron supplements coverage among pregnant women was very high, 83.5% and 86.8% respectively. The overall prevalence of anaemia (Hb <11.0 g/dl) was 47.5 %, anaemia requiring treatment (Hb <8.0 g/dl) was 10.0% with mean haemoglobin of 10.64 ±2.29. Children aged 24-35, 36-47 and 48-59 are less likely to have anaemia [OR=0.39(95% CI: 0.19-0.80); p=0.011], [OR=0.21(95% CI: 0.09-0.45); p<0.001] and [OR=0.29(95% CI: 0.14-0.58); p<0.001] respectively. Children with malaria parasitaemia were 7.8 times more likely to develop anaemia [OR=3.8(95% CI: 1.12-2.97); p=0.027].

Conclusion: Anaemia prevalence among children less than five years in the Hohoe municipality was lower than that of the national surveys. The presence of malaria parasitaemia could result in anaemia. Clearing malaria parasites from the blood, and use of SP-IPTp and iron supplements by mothers during pregnancy could reduce anaemia in children under five.