PREVALENCE OF ANEMIA AND ITS ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG UNDER FIVE YEARS CHILDREN VISITING SELECTED HEALTH FACILITIES IN GAROWE CITY, PUTLAND, SOMALIA

Abstract

Background: Anemia is a worldwide public health problem that occurs in all age groups but, under five years children are mostly affected. However, Anemia among children under five in Somalia is a critical public health issue with multifaceted causes and significant consequences. there is no factual data on Garowe Puntland Somalia that can support intervention of under-five children issues like anemia and their associated factors so There are currently no studies in Puntland, particularly in Garowe, that concentrate on under-five children anemia and related issues. As a result, this study will identify the prevalence of anemia in children as well as the factors. Objective: To assess the prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among children under 5 years of age in Garowe, Puntland, Somalia from April, 20 to May 20, 2022. Method and materials: An institutional-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 308 children aged 6-59 months attending selected health institutions in Garowe city. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews with the mother/caretaker, nutritional assessment, stool examination, blood film for malaria, and dietary diversity score. Anemia was assessed by hemoglobin measurement using HhemocueHB201.Bivariable and multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with anemia, thereby controlling the possible confounding factors. The level of statistical significance was declared at P-value < 0.05. Result: The overall prevalence of anemia in this study was 19.81% (61/308) (95% CI: 15.5, 24.7). The magnitude of severe, moderate, and mild types of anemia were 3.2% (2/61) (95% CI: 0.4,11.4), 40.9% (25/61) (95% CI: 28.6,54.3)) and 55.7% (34/61) (95% CI: 42.5,68.5), respectively. Mother educational status (AOR=5.21; 95 CI:1.33,20.29), monthly family income (AOR=3.17; 95% CI 1.16,8.64), intestinal parasite infection (AOR= 5.95; 95% CI: 2.49,14.20) and malaria (AOR 4.36; 95% CI:1.44,13.19) were negative associations while only this one is preventive fathers’ educational status (AOR 0.23;95% CI: 0.06,0.88), so all these factors associated anemia among under 5 children at Garowe, Puntland, Somalia. Conclusion: In this study, anemia has mild public health significance according to a range of WHO Mothers with read-and-write education and a family having a monthly income of 230 dollars, intestinal parasite, and infection malaria infection were positively identified factors associated with anemia among under 5 children. While preventive factors were only the father xi with secondary education. Therefore, screening for anemia is advised for children under five who visit a health facility with identified factors.