Anaemia prevalence in children newly registered at UNRWA schools: a cross-sectional study

Abstract

ObjectiveChildren entering first grade at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) schools in West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria complete a comprehensive medical examination at UNRWA health centres (HCs) as a requirement for their acceptance. Our study aimed to assess anaemia prevalence and undernutrition indicators among new entrant school children during their preschool medical examination.SettingsIn 2017, we conducted a cross-sectional study in 59 UNRWA HCs, targeting children entering first grade at UNRWA schools in four of UNRWA’s countries of operation (known as fields), namely Gaza, West Bank, Syria and Lebanon.Participants2419 completed the study. Boys and girls living inside or outside Palestine refugee camps were included. Verbal consent was obtained from their parents.Primary and secondary outcome measuresSociodemographic and anthropometric data on each child were collected. Underweight (weight-for-age z-score <−2 SD), stunting (height-for-age z-score <−2 SD), thinness (body mass index-for-age z-score <−2 SD) and obesity (body mass index-for-age z-score >+2 SD) were examined according to WHO growth indicators (5–10 years).Results2419 students (1278 girls and 1141 boys) aged 6.1±0.4 years were examined. The prevalence of anaemia (haemoglobin (Hb) <11.5 g/L) was 25.0% (Gaza: 29.3%; West Bank: 22.0%; Syria: 30.0%; Lebanon: 18.3%). The mean Hb level was 12.0±0.9 g/L. The overall prevalence of stunting, thinness and underweight was 3.2%, 3.5% and 5.6%, respectively, with the highest levels found in Syria (4.3%, 6.3% and 10.1%, respectively). The highest prevalence of overweight was in Lebanon (8.6%), and the lowest was in Gaza (2.6%). Significant differences were found among fields with regard to undernutrition indicators (p=0.001). Also, children with anaemia had significantly higher prevalence of being underweight (5.2%) in comparison with those without anaemia (p=0.001).ConclusionsThe prevalence of anaemia among the surveyed children increased to 25.0%, compared with the previous study conducted by UNRWA in 2005 (19.5%). Thus, it is recommended that Hb testing be included in the medical examination of new entrant school children attending UNRWA schools.

School Health Policies in the World: A Scoping Review

“…The review of existing studies shows that school health policies have not yet been comprehensively reviewed, and most studies have quantitatively examined the effect of using programs implemented in schools. These studies have emphasized school health promotion programs more than the policies themselves (12)(13)(14)(15). Therefore, according to the mentioned points and the role of children and teenagers as future actors, reviewing existing policies can effectively identify the most important aspects of stu-dents' health in schools and promote physical, mental, social, and spiritual health (16).…”

Anemia and associated factors among under-five children attending public Hospitals in Harari Regional State, eastern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

“…[19] It adversely influences the physical, and cognitive development of affected children and subsequently their educational achievement. [20] Several studies indicated that childhood anemia causes poor motor development, noninterest of children in their environment, a shorter attention span, diminished cognitive ability, and behavioral problems. [21,22] Anemia also affects the function of immune systems and consequently increases the risk of infections by impacting both the humoral and cellular immunity of affected children.…”

Anemia prevalence and associated factors among school-children of Kersa Woreda in eastern Ethiopia: A cross-sectional study

“…Globally, it causes 68.36 and 58.6 million years lived with a disability in 2010 [10] and 2019 [2] respectively. Anemia harms the physical, and cognitive development of affected children and subsequently their educational achievement which may lead to loss of productivity at a later age in life [11]. It also affects the function of immune systems and consequently increases the risk of infections by impacting both humoral and cellular immunity [12,13].…”