Prevalence of Anaemia and its associated factors among children in suburban Puducherry-A cross sectional study

Nutritional anemia is a recognized public health problem with a higher prevalence in developing countries. Anaemia is a silent emergency and nearly 70% of children and 55% of middle aged women are affected in India.

The study was aimed to estimate the prevalence of anaemia and its associated factors among children.

The study was done in suburban Puducherry. All consecutive new patients with consenting parents below the age of 14 years were included in the study. Data was collected on demographic profile, mother's profile, hygiene, dietary intake, anthropometric measurements and hemoglobin estimated by portable hemoglobinometer.

The prevalence of anaemia was 54.25% and was significantly associated with rural residence, lower economic status, schooling, maternal Hb level & education, overcrowding, open defecation, hand washing, deworming, walking barefoot, birth weight, breast feeding and nutritional status, whereas the prevalence was not significantly associated with age, gender and religion.

The prevalence of anaemia was high and level of hygiene and sanitation was low which emphasized the need of intensive health education to bring behavioral change among the participants.