Prevalence of Anemia and Its Associated Factors Among 6-59-Month-Old Children in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Referral Hospital, Northern Ethiopia.

INTRODUCTION: Anemia is one of the most widespread diseases, with one in four people affected by anemia worldwide. In sub-Saharan Africa, anemia in preschool children is considered a severe public health problem. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among 6-59-month-old children in Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Referral Hospital, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. METHODS: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among systematically selected 423 6-59-month-old children who were seeking service at Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Referral Hospital. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Four mL of venous blood from the finger was collected and analyzed using a Sysmex machine (model XP-300). Anemia in children was defined as a hemoglobin level below 11 g/dL. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS Version 21. Variables with a p value of < 0.2 in the bivariable analysis were selected for multivariable logistic regression, and statistical significance was declared at p value < 0.05 and CI of 95%. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia among children aged 6-59 months was 57.1% (95% confidence interval: 52.2%-62.1%); of this magnitude, mild, moderate, and severe anemia was 27.1%, 20.9%, and 9.1%, respectively. Morphological, microcytic hypochromic anemia was the most common type of anemia. Children aged 6-23 months (adjusted odds ratio = 2.374; 95% confidence interval: 1.428-3.945), stunting (adjusted odds ratio = 2.543; 95% confidence interval: 1.503-4.302), underweight (adjusted odds ratio = 6.660; 95% confidence interval: 3.046-14.566), and intestinal parasite infection (adjusted odds ratio = 2.803; 95% confidence interval: 1.242-6.322) were factors associated with anemia. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of anemia shows that it is a severe public health problem. Our findings underscore the need for nutrition counseling, deworming, growth monitoring, and promotion to minimize stunting, underweight, and intestinal parasite infection among children.