DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2020.v08i10.002

Pages: 2219-2224

Background: Anaemia and its association with low physical and cognitive development in under-five children remain as a common public health burden in developing countries including Bangladesh. Diagnosing anemia with its clinical and morphological pattern is important since it help in directing further investigation, identifying the etiology and most importantly helps in treatment. Aim of the study: The aim of the study was to find out key clinical and morphological pattern of anaemia among the under-five children in rural community of Bangladesh. Methods and Materials: A cross-sectional study were conducted at five remote northern districts of Bangladesh involving rural children aged 6 - <60 months. Five millilitre (ml) venous blood was drawn using a sterile syringe and was analyzed with an ‘Automated Hematology Analyzer’ for complete hemogram. The degree of anaemia was classified into three categories on the basis of hemoglobin level. Chi-squared test and independent sample t test were the main statistical model to identify significant variables. A p-value <0.05 was considered as significant. Results: Overall prevalence of anaemia (N = 258) was 61.23% with mild, moderate and severe anaemia of 28.29%, 28.68% and 4.26% respectively. Of all anaemic children nearly 7% has been suffering from severe anaemia. The prevalence of anaemia was the highest (72%) in age group 6-24 months, which was followed by 63% in >24-36 months and 44.3% in >36-60 months categories. Morphologically, the most common type of anemia is microcytic anemia (80%) followed by normocytic anaemia (19%) in rural settings. Majority of microcytic anaemic children (63%) belongs to 6-24 month age group and normocytic anemia are commonly prevailed (50%) in >36-60 month and (43%) in 6-24 month aged group. Sex has no statistically significant influence on morphological pattern of anaemia (X2= .075). Conclusion: Clinically moderate anemia or mild anaemia is very common in preschool children particularly ......