Anemia in children aged 6–59 months was significantly associated with maternal anemia status in rural Zimbabwe

Abstract

Globally, anemia is a public health problem affecting mostly women of reproductive age (WRA, n = 452) and children aged 6-59 months (n = 452) from low-and lowermiddle-income countries. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence and determinants of anemia in WRA and children aged 6-59 months in rural Zimbabwe.The venous blood sample was measured for hemoglobin utilizing a HemoCue machine. Anthropometric indices were assessed and classified based on World Health Organization standards. Socioeconomic characteristics were assessed. The median (±inter quartile range (IQR)) age of WRA was 29 ± 12 years and that for children was 29 ± 14 months. The prevalence of anemia was 29.6% and 17.9% in children and WRA, respectively, while the median (±IQR) hemoglobin levels were 13.4 ± 1.8 and 11.7 ± 1.5 g/dl among women and children, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess determinants of anemia. Anemia in children was significantly associated with maternal anemia (odds ratio (OR) = 2.02; 95% CI 1.21-3.37; p = .007) and being a boy (OR = 0.63; 95% CI 0.41-0.95; p = .029), while anemia in WRA was significantly associated with the use of unimproved dug wells as a source of drinking water (OR = 0.36; 95% CI 0.20-0.66; p = .001) and lack of agricultural land ownership (OR = 0.51; 95% CI 0.31-0.85; p = .009). Anemia is a public health problem in the study setting. The positive association between maternal and child anemia reflects the possibility of cross-generational anemia. Therefore, interventions that focus on improving preconceptual and maternal nutritional status may help to reduce anemia in low-income settings.

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“…Economic conditions play a significant role in influencing nutritional anemia, where lower income is associated with higher prevalence. A notable difference in the prevalence of first quartile income was observed compared to the control group, consistent with existing literature ( 23 , 24 ). This phenomenon could potentially be attributed to the limited access to healthy food in areas where economically disadvantaged and vulnerable populations reside ( 25 , 26 ).…”

A pilot survey of selenium status and its geospatial variation among children and women in three rural districts of Zimbabwe

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Household environment associated with anaemia among children aged 6–59 months in Ethiopia: a multilevel analysis of Ethiopia demographic and health survey (2005–2016)

“…A study by Kothari et al found mixed findings on the associations between the water source and anaemia in the analysis of 47 demographic and health surveys [ 76 ]. However, only some studies conducted in Zimbabwe [ 77 ] and Liberia [ 78 ] found a significant association between the use of unimproved sources of drinking water and anaemia in children. These conflicting findings may result from various infectious disease pathogens in various environments, dietary patterns, and other behavioural factors related to water handling and treatment that may influence the relationship between anaemia and the household water source.…”