Prevalence and Morphological Types of Anaemia among Children Under-Five Years in the Volta Regional Hospital of Ghana

Abstract

Background: This study aimed at determining the prevalence and morphological types of anaemia, among children under-five years, who had full blood count (FBC) investigation done at the laboratory of the Volta regional hospital. Methodology: This was a retrospective study of archival FBC test results data for children below 5 years in the laboratory, between1 st July to 31 st December 2015. The FBC results comprised of the hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and the red blood cell indices. Obtained data were analyzed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: A total 451 children were sampled. Anaemia prevalence in this study was 55.0% (248/451) and most of the children suffered from moderate anaemia (42%) (104/248) with mild and severe anaemia being 34% (84/248) and 24% (60/248) respectively. Children with microcytic hypochromic anaemia were 52%, (130/248), while those with normocytic normochromic were 25% (63/248). Conclusion: Anaemia was found in more than half of the children under-five years and microcytic hypochromic anaemia was the commonest morphological type of anaemia. There is need for a multi-disciplinary approach to elucidate the etiology of anaemia in children under-five years.

Prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among children under five years of age attending at Guguftu health center, South Wollo, Northeast Ethiopia

“…Similar to study reports in South-East Nigeria [24] and the Volta Regional Hospital of Ghana [26], the present study found that sex difference did not show association with anemia. However, other studies found a higher prevalence of anemia among boys than girls [11, 29], and also in girls than boys [27].…”

“…This finding is in agreement with studies conducted in Nepal [23], Hohoe municipality, Ghana[25], and India [28]. However, our result is deviated from EDHS 2016 report [5] and study in Volta Regional Hospital of Ghana[26], which showed high moderate anemia.…”

“…The overall prevalence of anemia was 41.1% (95% CI;36.6% - 45.8%), this finding was similar to 2016 Ethiopian DHS prevalence reported for the Amhara Region (42%) [5]and study conducted in Jimma, Ethiopia (46%) [22]. However, the result of the present study is lower than studies conducted in Nepal (49.5%)[23], South-East Nigeria (49.2%)[24],Hohoe municipality and Volta Regional Hospital of Ghana(47.5% &55.0%)[25, 26], and Limpopo Province, South Africa (75.0%)[27]. The difference in the prevalence might be due to variation in the study design, sampling techniques, and sample size.…”

Morphological Patterns Of Anemia Among Under Five Children On Prevention Of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT) Programmes In Masogo Sub-County Hospital, Kisumu County, Kenya

“…Our finding was similar to 2016 Ethiopian DHS prevalence reported for the Amhara Region (42%) [5] and study conducted in Jimma, Ethiopia (46%) [22]. However, the result of the present study is lower than studies conducted in Nepal (49.5%) [23], South-East Nigeria (49.2%) [24], Hohoe municipality and Volta Regional Hospital of Ghana (47.5% &55.0%) [25][26], and Limpopo Province, South Africa (75.0%) [27].The difference in the prevalence might be attributed in the study design, sampling techniques, and sample size. The difference might also be due to variation in the geographical location of the study participants or due to variation in socio-demographic characteristics or socioeconomic status of parents in the areas.…”

“…Like other study reports documented from South-East Nigeria [24] and the Volta Regional Hospital of Ghana [26], the present study found that sex difference did not show association with anaemia. However, other studies found a higher prevalence of anaemia among boys than girls [29], and also in girls than boys [27].…”