Prevalence and etiology of anemia in reuntion: Comparative study of hematological, biochemical and anthropometric parameters, parasitic and clinical status of anemic and non-anemic children

Abstract

A survey was conducted in Reunion to evaluate the prevalence and etiology of anemia in a sample population from six-month- to six-year-old children. The sample consisted of 384 subjects drawn from 378 households selected by multistage cluster sampling in 20 scattered locations representative of the island. Socioeconomic conditions, brief dietary history, clinical assessment, hematological, biochemical and anthropometric measurements, stool examination for intestinal parasites were investigated in each subject. Using the NCHS and WHO standards (hemoglobin level below 11 g/dl), it was observed that the prevalence of anemia was 13.6% in the entire population, 21.1% in the six-month- to two-year-old, and 8.8% in the two- to six-year-old children. The anemia can be defined as being mild since the lowest value of hemoglobin concentration was 8 g/dl. Our study shows microcytic and hypochromic anemia due to iron deficiency to be a significant problem. There is no evidence that folic acid deficiency, protein-energy malnutrition, genetic disorders (sickle-cell anemia, β-thalassemia, glucose-6-phosphate deshydrogenase deficiency), intestinal parasitis or chronic infections are contributing significantly to this problem.