Prevalence of childhood anemia: Potential sociodemographic and dietary factors in Nigeria

Childhood anemia is a global public health issue. In this study, we assessed the potential sociodemographic and dietary factors associated with the prevalence of anemia among children aged 6-59 months in Nigeria. In this cross-sectional study, we collected dietary information and demographic data on...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2022-12, Vol.17 (12), p.e0278952-e0278952
Main Authors: Shourove, Jahid Hasan, Meem, Fariha Chowdhury, Lima, Sabrina Akther, Islam, G M Rabiul
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anemia
Anemia - epidemiology
Anemia in children
Biology and Life Sciences
Bivariate analysis
Breastfeeding & lactation
Cassava
Child
Children
Cross-Sectional Studies
Data collection
Demographic aspects
Demographics
Demography
Developing countries
Diagnosis
Diet
Dietary supplements
Distribution
Families & family life
Female
Food
Health aspects
Health risks
Health surveys
Hemoglobin
Humans
Infant
Iron
LDCs
Logit models
Medical research
Medicine and Health Sciences
Milk
Multivariate analysis
Nigeria - epidemiology
Parent educational background
People and Places
Potatoes
Prevalence
Public health
Research ethics
Review boards
Risk Factors
Sociodemographics
Socioeconomic Factors
Vegetables
Vitamin A
Weaning
Yams
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Summary:Childhood anemia is a global public health issue. In this study, we assessed the potential sociodemographic and dietary factors associated with the prevalence of anemia among children aged 6-59 months in Nigeria. In this cross-sectional study, we collected dietary information and demographic data on 6,338 children with anemia from the Nigerian Demographic and Health Surveys (2018). The association between the occurrence of anemia and the demographic and dietary factors was determined by conducting Chi-squared tests. Additionally, bivariate and multivariate order logit models were constructed and reported as odds ratios. The results of the multivariate analysis showed that the risk of anemia was reduced by 13% and 44% in children aged 13-36 months (OR = 0.87; 95% CI = 0.77-0.98; p = 0.019) and 37-59 months (OR = 0.56; 95% CI = 0.49-0.63; p < 0.001), respectively, compared to the risk of anemia in children aged 6-12 months. Anemia was 28% less likely in children of non-anemic mothers (OR = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.66-0.80; p < 0.001) than children of anemic mothers. Children fed pumpkin, carrot, squash, and sweet potato showed a lower occurrence of anemia by 17% (OR = 0.83; 95% CI = 0.70-0.99; p = 0.036) compared to those who were not fed these vegetables. Chances of anemia increased by 14% in children who were fed white potatoes, white yams, manioc, cassava, and other root-based foods (OR = 1.14; 95% CI = 1.01-1.29; p = 0.036). This study highlighted the impact of a plant-based diet on the high prevalence of childhood anemia in Nigeria. Therefore, reformation of dietary habits, the inclusion of nutritional supplements, and food-fortification programs with reductions in maternal anemia are recommended.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0278952