Abstract
Anaemia in children remains a significant public health threat. Recent numbers from Ethiopia showed that more than two‐thirds of children under the age of 2 years were anaemic. This study aimed to investigate the determinants of anaemia throughout Ethiopia over 11 years, making use of the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) rounds 2005, 2011 and 2016. The EDHS made it possible to use data on blood tests and detailed questionnaires among infants and young children. Multivariable logistic regression was applied to assess the association of anaemia and different immediate and underlying determinants. A total of 7,324 children aged 6–23 months were included in the analysis, with prevalences of anaemia being 71% in 2005, 61% in 2011 and 72% in 2016. The following determinants were significantly associated with childhood anaemia throughout the entire period: children younger than 1 year, anaemic mothers and those growing up in pastoralist regions. Risk factors such as diet and infections were consistently not significantly associated with anaemia. Given the tremendous adverse health effects of anaemia in young children, urgent action is needed. Hence, this study recommends nationwide multisectoral interventions targeting pastoralist regions, maternal and child health, screening and treatment of risk groups that could reduce the prevalence of anaemia.
Highlights
Anaemia remains a significant global health concern with over onequarter of the world's population affected by the condition (Balarajan, Ramakrishnan, Ozaltin, Shankar, & Subramanian, 2011)
This study aimed to investigate the determinants of anaemia throughout Ethiopia over 11 years, making use of the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) rounds 2005, 2011 and 2016
By investigating the prevalence of anaemia over 11 years, analysing its determinants and inequalities, the results of this study provide a comprehensive overview of the serious public health concern of anaemia among Ethiopian children aged 6–23 months
Summary
Anaemia remains a significant global health concern with over onequarter of the world's population affected by the condition (Balarajan, Ramakrishnan, Ozaltin, Shankar, & Subramanian, 2011). Data from the 2016 DHS showed that only 7% of all children aged 6–23 months reached the minimum standard of the infant and young child feeding (IYCF) minimum acceptable diet (MAD) This recommended standard of diet includes breastfeeding and diversity in nutrient-rich foods; a lack of which may explain the high prevalence of anaemia in this context (CSA and ICF, 2017). Studies indicate that the proportion of anaemia varies across geographical regions, with children living in rural areas being more at risk than those living in urban areas (Abebe et al, 2018; Ejigu et al, 2018) These risk factors are well documented; identifying the contribution of risk factors is needed to determine the most critical predictors of anaemia in Ethiopia, which can be targets of interventions. This study aims to examine the trends and drivers of anaemia by identifying geographical patterns and associated determinants among children aged 6–23 months in Ethiopia for over 10 years
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