ASSESSMENT OF IRON STATUS AMONG PRESCHOOL CHILDREN AGED 6-59 MONTHS IN SELECTED AREAS IN WESTERN KENYA

Abstract

Iron deficiency anaemia is a major public health problem in developing countries. Globally, iron deficiency ranks number 9 among 26 diseases with the highest burden and is responsible for about 60% of all anaemia cases among preschool children. In Africa iron deficiency is 43-52% while in Kenya, children under 5 years constitute the largest burden with 69% of them being deficient. Iron deficiency and malaria infection are common conditions in children in developing countries especially Sub-Saharan Africa. Age infection profiles indicate that preschool-age (6 to 59 months) children are at the highest risk of malaria infection and re-analysis of existing data suggests that Plasmodium falciparum has an additive impact on haemoglobin, exacerbating anaemia-related malaria disease burden. .This study determined haemoglobin levels, serum ferritin levels, nutritional status and P.falciparum malaria infection in preschool children. A cross sectional study was conducted among 125 preschool children in selected areas in western Kenya. The study recorded socio-demographic factors during household survey and laboratory procedures were used to determine malaria parasitaemia, serum ferritin levels, and Haemoglobin concentration in preschool children. For data analysis SPSS (v.20.0) was used. Descriptive statistics including means, standard deviations and percentages of iron status and nutritional status were calculated. Normal continuous data was compared by student’s t-test. Multivariate logistic regression was used to examine independent factors of iron deficiency among the children. The prevalence of iron deficiency (ferritin <12µg/l), anaemia (Hb<110g/l) and P.falciparum malaria parasitaemia were 20.8%, 25% and 6.7% respectively. Anaemia cases were further divided into moderate (14.2%) and mild (10.8%). The prevalence of stunting (Z-score for height for age [HAZ] <-2SD), wasting (Z-score for weight for height [WHZ] < -2SD) and being underweight (Z-score for weight for age [WAZ] < -2SD) was 28.9%, 1.7% and 6.6% respectively. Anaemia was significantly related to iron deficiency (P<0.05). In conclusion, iron deficiency, anaemia and P.falciparum malaria were prevalent among preschool children. The findings revealed a significant association between iron deficiency and anaemia. Therefore effective interventions to improve iron status will have large health benefits by greatly reducing anaemia in preschool children.