Prevalence of anaemia, severity, and morphological classification among children aged 2 to 59 months attending paediatric outpatient clinics in Temeke municipal, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
Loading...
Date
2022
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Hubert Kairuki Memorial University
Abstract
Background: Anaemia is a significant secondary clinical diagnosis among children less than five years of age. However, there is a paucity of findings on morphological characteristics and severity of anaemia among children aged 2 to 59 months in Tanzania. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of anaemia, severity, and morphological classification among children aged 2 to 59 months attending paediatric outpatient clinics in Temeke Regional Referral Hospital (TRRH) and Mbagala Rangi tatu, Dar es Salaam. Materials and methods: A cross-sectional health facility-based study was conducted among children aged 2 to 59 months in the above-mentioned facilities in Temeke Municipality. Data on the demographic, clinical history, and complete blood count results were collected among the participants. Data were analysed using SPSS version 20.
Results: A total of 250 children were enrolled in the study. The male: female ratio was 1:1. The median age of children was 18 (IQR: 9-35) months. Two thirds (67%) of children had anaemia whereby mild, moderate and severe anaemia were (n=50, 20%); (n=85, 34%); and n=32, 12.8% respectively. The most common morphological classification was normocytic normochromic anaemia (48%) followed by microcytic hypochromic anaemia (13.6%)
Conclusions: Anaemia was prevalent in this study population. Almost half of the study participants had normocytic normochromic anaemia and one-third had moderate anaemia.
Recommendations: To prevent the detrimental effect of anaemia in children, routine screening and determination of the causes of anemia should be a priority at all primary health care facilities. Health information and education sessions need to be emphasized. Short and long -term effects of anaemia in children needs to be addressed accordingly.
Description
A dissertation report submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Medicine in paediatrics and child health
Keywords
Anaemia, Children, Dar es salaam
Citation
Omary, S. A., 2022. Prevalence of anaemia, severity, and morphological classification among children aged 2 to 59 months attending paediatric outpatient clinics in Temeke municipal, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. HKMU