Effect of Iron Supplementation in the Prevention of Anemia Associated with Malaria in Children Aged 6 to 59 Months in Bakperou (Benin) in 2013

Abstract

Introduction: Anemia is a largely widespread public health issue, with major consequences on human health and the economic and social development. Objective: To determine the effect of iron supplementation in the prevention of anemia in children aged 6 to 59 months having malaria in the village of Bakperou (Benin) in 2013. Setting and methods: It was an interventional study carried out in two phases in a village of Parakou (Bakperou) from 15 may to 30 September, 2013. A descriptive phase including 236 children among whom 70, divided into two groups of 35 each, were selected for the experimental phase. One group had received an iron supplementation of 2mg/ kg/day during a period of two months. The second group had not received any supplementation. Results: The mean age of the included children was 33.2 ± 13.5 months. In the supplemented children, the mean age was 32.0 ± 13.1 months for 34.5 ± 13.9 in the non- supplemented ones. The most represented sex was the female (63.3%). Sex ratio was 0.6. In the supplemented ones, female percentage was 56.7% and 66.7% 9 in the non- supplemented. The incidence of malaria was 63.3% IC95% [49.9% - 75.4%]. In the supplemented children, incidence of anemia in children having malaria was 43.3% IC95% [25.5% - 62.6%] and 73.3% IC95% [25.5% - 62.6%] in the non- supplemented. The non-supplemented children ran twice more risk of having anemia with malaria than supplemented ones (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Iron supplementation of infants and children in the village of Bakperou (Parakou) proved to be efficient and enable to implement a supplementation program in order to reduce anemia associated with malaria in children.