Limited Reduction in Anemia in Children in a Low-Income Community Offered Iron Treatment Despite a Quality Improvement Initiative.

Abstract

This study aimed to determine whether better hematological outcomes were attained in young anemic (hemoglobin <11.0g/dl) children following a quality improvements initiative (QII) of a basic anemia screening and iron treatment approach in a low-income community. Pre-post changes in two anemic cohorts, one before (cohort A, n=115) and one after (Cohort B, n=106) a QII, were determined using data from a well-baby clinic in the Dominican Republic. More anemic children in Cohort B had documented anemia resolution than Cohort A, 16.0 versus 7.0%, respectively. For the subgroups with post treatment hemoglobin results, Cohort B (n=65) had a larger pre-post hemoglobin increase than Cohort A (n=62), 0.88 (SD 1.04) versus 0.43 (SD 0.96) g/dl, respectively. However, not all the parameters were significantly better for Cohort B and most children remained anemic in both cohorts post treatment. Determination of more effective service interventions to address childhood anemia in low-resource settings is needed.