Magnitude Severity And Associated Factors Of Anemia Among Under- Five Children Attending Hawassa University Teaching And Referral Hospital And Adare Hospital In Hawassa Southern Ethiopia 2016

Background: Anemia is a widespread public health problem associated with increased riskrnof morbidity and mortality. Infants, under 5-year-old children and pregnant women haverngreater susceptibility to anemia. The magnitude and associated risk factors for anemia vary inrndifferent settings.rnObjective: To determine the magnitude, severity and associated factors of anemia amongrnunder five children attending at Hawassa University Teaching and Referral hospital andrnAdare hospital, Southern Ethiopia.rnMethods: A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2015 tornJune 2016 at Hawassa University Teaching and Referral hospital and Adare hospitals inrnHawassa, Southern Ethiopia. A total of 422 under five children were included applyingrnconvenient sampling method. Socio demographic data and other predisposing factors wererncollected by using interviewer administered structured questionnaire. Venous blood samplernwere collected from each child and analyzed for hemoglobin determination using cell-Dynrn1800 automated analyzer. Stained thin and thick smears were prepared for malaria parasitesrndetection. Stool samples were collected and processed using direct wet mount and formol-rnether concentration method to detect intestinal parasites. Data was entered and analyzedrnusing SPSS version 20 statistical packages. Binary and multiple logistic regressions wererncomputed to assess association between variables. P-value less than 0.05 was taken asrnstatistically significant.rnResult: Among the 422 study participants, 235(55.7%) were males and 187(44.3%) werernfemales. The mean hemoglobin level was 10.59 g/dl and about 176(41.7%) of children werernanemic. Anemia was of mild, moderate and severe type in 6.6%, 19% and 16.1% of thernchildren, respectively. Being in the age group 6–23 months [AOR = 2.04: 95% CI (1.13, 3.69)], andrnhaving mothers with no formal education [AOR = 1.73: 95%CI (0.99, 3.02)] were identified asrnassociated factors for anemia.rnConclusion: The magnitude of anemia was remarkably high being predominantly ofrnmoderate and severe type. Children between 6 to 23 months and those who had mothers withrnno formal education were more likely to be anemic. Thus, interventions like health education forrnmothers/care givers should be strengthened.rnKey words: Anemia, Under five children

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