DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i07.057

Pages: 2791-2802

The objective of this study is to analyze the association of nutritional and socio-demographic factors with anemia in children between 1 year to 5 years of age. A Cross-sectional, observational study was performed in department of pediatrics from April 2013 – April 2014 in Santosh hospital Ghaziabad, U.P. 300 children between 1 to 5 years of age who full fill inclusion criteria were enrolled. Method- Proforma was primarily focused to obtain the dietary intake of calories, proteins & iron, co-morbidities, Anthropometry and Socio-demographic data. Predictor variable- Socio-demographic factors (age, sex, type of family & socioeconomic status) dietary (age of start of complementary feeding, dietary intake of calories, proteins & iron) and h/o co-morbidities (worms in stool & pica), anthropometry data (wasting & stunting). Outcome variable- Anemia, diagnosed at hemoglobin level of less than 11gm/dl (WHO). Statistics - Odds ratio with confidence interval. The p value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Prevalence of anemia was found to be 78% with 17% mild, 58% moderate and 3% severe anemia. Anemia was significantly seen with following dietary habits- vegetarian diet (P<0.001), low intake of calories (P<0.001) and iron deficient diet (P<0.001). Anemia was significantly associated with malnutrition (100% of moderately wasted and stunted children were anemic. Association was found with SES and co morbidities like Pica & h/o worm infestation. High prevalence of anemia (78%) along with presence of poor dietary intake of calories and iron in majority of subjects point towards the importance of proper dietary advice to combat nutritional anemia.