Anemia among children and adolescents in a rural area
Journal Title: Paediatrica Indonesiana - Year 2014, Vol 54, Issue 2
Abstract
Background Anemia in children and adolescents affects growthand development. It is a preventable disease, but unfortunately isoften ignored until the symptoms occur. There have been limitedreports on the prevalence of anemia in children and adolescentsin Indonesia, especially from rural areas.Objective To describe the prevalence of anemia in children andadolescents in district ofMalinau, a rural area in East KalimantanProvince.Methods This cross-sectional study was done in June 20 10 usinglaboratory records between July 2009 to January 20 10. Laboratoryrecords of patients aged between 6 months and 18 years whichinvestigated were complete blood count (CBC) from ambulatory,inpatient, and emergency care ofMalinau Public Hospital in EastKalimantan. Mentzer and England & Fraser indices were used todifferentiate iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and thalassemia amongmicrocytic hypochromic anemic patients.Results This study involved 709 laboratory records. Prevalenceof anemia was 53 .9% (95% CI 50.2% to 57 .5%) . The prevalenceof IDA among age groups were as follows: 29.4% (95% CI 24.3to 34.5%) in 6- 59 months group, 16% (95% CI 11 to 21 %) in5- 11.9 years, and 15.2% (95% CI 10.2 to 20.2%) in 12- 18 years.Children aged 6- 59 months tended to have more anemia th anthose aged 5- 11.9 years (OR 2. 184, 95% CI 1.398 to 3.413) oraged 12- 18 years (OR 2.3 19, 95% CI 1.464 to 3.674).Conclusion T he prevalence of an emia in children andadolescents of the Malinau Regency is 53 .9% (95% CI 50.2 to57.5%), quite similar to that of other developing countries . Agovernment program to overcome anemia is recommended, n otonly for pregnant women, but also for children and adolescents.
Authors and Affiliations
Ivan Widjaja, Felix Widjaja, Lucyana Santoso, Erick Wonggokusuma, Oktaviati Oktaviati
Congenital obstructive posterior urethral membranes and recurrent urinary tract infection: a rare case of congenital hypertrophy of the verumontanum
Congenital obstructive posterior urethral membranes (COPUM) is a complex disease closely related to several pathological changes in kidney development and function, as a result of urinary reflux since in utero. This cong...
Superoxide dismutase levels and peak expiratory flow in asthmatic children
Background Asthma is a chronic inflammatory process which involve variety of cells such as inflammatory mediators, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and cytokines. The inflammatory process would be exacerbated in the presen...
Soluble transferrin receptor as an indicator of iron deficiency and febrile seizures
Background Iron deficiency (ID) has a high incidence inIndonesia, and is a risk factor for febrile seizures. The most suitableassay to detect iron deficiency in the presence of inflammationhas not yet been defined. An in...
Host factors related to pneumonia in children under 5 years of age
Background Pneumonia has been one of the serious problems for children under five in Indonesia. Imbalanced interactions among host factors, agents, and environments influence incidence of pneumonia. Objective To determin...
Rebound serum bilirubin levels after single vs. double phototherapy
Background Hyperbilirubinemia is the most common clinicalphenomenon found in newborns. Phototherapy is the standardtreatment for lowering bilirubin levels in neonates. Whileintensive (double) phototherapy produces a more...