Prevalence of Anemia and Associated Factors Among Under Five Children Attending Public Health Facilities in Hargeisa City, Somaliland 2020

Abstract

<i>Background:</i> Anemia is a widespread public health problem associated with an increased risk of morbidity and mortality. It is considered to be an important contributing factor to the global burden of disease. Affecting both developed and developing countries, it has an impact not only on human health and productivity but in the process it affects the socio-economic development of a nation. <i>Objective: this</i> study is to assess the prevalence of Anemia and associated factors among under-five children attending public health facility in Hargeisa, Somaliland 2020. <i>Method: </i>facility based cross sectional study design was conducted in Hargeisa, Somaliland from April to July<i>,</i> 2020. Total of 417 of children were participating and selected consecutively in the study. Data were collected by face to face interview with the<i> mothers/caregivers of the child, by using semi structural questionnaire. </i>Blood sample were collected from each child by using portable Hemocue Hb201 analyzer. Data were entered on to Epi data and exported to SPSS software version 20 for analysis, Descriptive statistics, Bivariate and Multivariate analysis were conducted. Crude odds ratio and adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was calculated. Statistical significance was set at p-value less than 0.05. <i>Result: </i>the overall prevalence of Anemia was 49.4% (95% CI (44.8-54.2)), 139 (33.3%) had mild anemia, 56 (13.4%) had moderate anemia, and 11 (2.6%) had severe anemia. Age of the child 6–11, 12–23 and 24-35 months (AOR=10.478 (95% CI: 4.113-26.694), (AOR =4.909 (95% CI: 1.826-13.198), (AOR= 4.433 (95% CI: 1.754-11.208, illiterate mothers and able Read and write (AOR = 2.998 (95% CI: 1.439-6.249), (OR=3.803 (95% CI: 1.720-8.411)), early (<6months) and late introduction of complementary foods (AOR = 2.626; 95% CI: (1.422-4.851), (AOR = 2.680 (95% CI: 1.401-5.126), diarrhea (AOR= 2.422 (95% CI: 1.371-4.278), underweight (AOR= 2.533 (95% CI: 1.439-4.460), wealth (AOR = 1.79 (95% CI: 1.066-3.020), deworming (AOR 3.032 (95% CI: 1.839-5.000)) were factors significantly associated with Anemia. <i>Conclusion</i>: The prevalence of anemia in this study is higher and it was severe public health problems according to WHO classification. Age of the child, mother’s education, complementary feeding, and diarrhea, underweight and deworming were factors significantly associated with anemia among under-five children This study well recommended interventions to improve the health status and infant and young child feeding practices need to be prioritized to prevent deficiency of anemia.