Anemia among children (6 To 59 months) in Qoloji internally displaced people camp, Somali Region, eastern Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND

Anemia remains a significant public health issue, especially in emergency areas and refugee camps. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among children aged 6 to 59 months in Qoloji internally displaced people camp site, Somali Region, eastern Ethiopia.

METHODS

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 401 children aged 6 to 59 months. Capillary blood was collected and hemoglobin level was determined using HemoCue Hb 301. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 26. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to identify determinants of anemia.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of anemia was found to be 51.4% (95% CI: 46.6%, 56.4%). Of the anemic children 29.4% (95% CI: 25.2%, 33.9%), 16.7% (95% CI: 13.2%, 20.7%) and 5.2% (95%CI: 3.2%, 7.5%) had mild, moderate, and severe anemia respectively. Initiation of complementary feeding below 6 months (AOR = 2.6;95% CI:1.5,4.6), household food insecurity (AOR = 5.4;95% CI:2.8,10.2), mothers of child having no formal education (AOR = 2.8; 95% CI: 1.3, 5.7), inadequate dietary diversity (AOR = 7.9; 95%CI:4.4, 13.9) and lack of antenatal care follow up during pregnancy (AOR = 3.5;95% CI:1.8, 6.7) were found associated with of anemia.

CONCLUSION

The prevalence of anemia was high among children. Household food insecurity, dietary diversity, initiation of complementary feeding, maternal educational status and antenatal care during pregnancy were factors found associated with anemia. Therefore, adequate interventions should be designed and implemented considering improvement of household food security, access to maternal education and dissemination of nutrition and health related information.