Anemia and its associated factors in children aged 2-5 years in slum area of Multan.

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of anemia among children aged 2-5 years in slum area of Multan and also to detect the associated factors of this condition. Study Design: Descriptive Cross Sectional Study. Setting: Slum Area (Jahangirabad) of Multan. Period: February 2023 to March 2023. Material & Methods: A total of 369 children of 2-5 years of age, not suffering from psycho-motor retardation, hormonal disorders, chronic debilitating diseases, congenital heart diseases, or acute severe illnesses were included in study using non-probability convenient sampling technique. Information was taken by using a pretested questionnaire. Results: The mean age was 3.5 and SD ±2.2. The prevalence of anemia was 55.83% (n=369). About 51.46% of anemic children had mild anemia. There was no gender variation in occurrence of anemia (p = 0.52). There was significant association between mother’s education, occupation and anemia respectively (p = 0.01, 0.00). Conclusion: Anemia is a growing health issue in our new generation and government and health professional should manage this issue.