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Anemia And Nutritional Status of Pre-School Children In North Gaza , Palestine

2012; IJSTR; Volume: 1; Issue: 11 Linguagem: Inglês

2277-8616

Bassam F. S. Alzain,

Food Security and Health in Diverse Populations

The most common cause of anemia is a deficiency of iron; but it may also be caused by deficiencies of folates, vitamin B12 an d protein. Some anemias are not caused by nutritional factors, but by congenital factors and parasitic diseases such as malaria. This study attempted to estimate the prevalence of anemia and investigate nutritional status among pre-school children in three rural communities of North Gaza government area. A total of 150 children between the ages of 24 - 62 months were randomly selected over a period of six months and prevalence of anaemia was estimated. The World Health Organization (WHO) age-adjusted cut-off for hemoglobin were used to classify anemia. Under- nutrition (stunting, wasting and underweight) was classified according to the National Centre for Health Statistics standards. Heights, weights and Mid Upper Arm Circumference were measured.Haemoglobin levels of children were estimated by cyanmethaemoglobin method. The information regarding their age, sex, clinical condition and kind of the food intak was collected in a Proforma through an interview. Chi-square and t- test was used to assess the relationship of anemia to sex, dietary habits, and nutritional status. The prevalence of anemia was 65.3 % having haemoglobin levels lower than 11g/dl. The percentage of anemic children among male and female children was 35 and 30 respectively and statistical analysis showed that male children were more susceptible to anemia. Malnutrition was patent; 34.0% of the children were stunted, 20.3% wasted and 45.0% underweight. Anaemia was also significantly higher in Jabalia camp than in bait hanon and Bait lahia town pre- school children (P<0.001) . Consumption of all the food intake by majority of the children was comparatively less than the recommended dietary allowances . Data on anthropometry revealed that out of total children screened (N=150), mean height and weight in all the age group was significantly (p<0.05%) less than the National Center for Health Statistics standards. The mean MUAC in all the age groups was significantly (p<0.01%) less than the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey standards. It is concluded that poor anthropometric indices, undernutrition and iron deficiency anemia may be due to lower intake of food than recommended.