FREQUENCY AND SEVERITY OF ANEMIA IN CHILDREN LESS THAN 15 YEARS OF AGE AT GWADAR DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY HOSPITAL, GWADAR, BALUCHISTAN

Frequency and Severity of Anemia

Abstract

Objective: To determine the frequency and severity of anemia in children <15 years of age and find association of
anemia with age and gender at Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) Hospital, Gwadar, Baluchistan.
Study Design: Cross sectional study.
Place and Duration of Study: GDA Hospital Gwadar, from June 2016 to June 2017.
Material and Methods: Through consecutive sampling, 483 children reporting to the pathology department for
hemoglobin estimation were sampled. The samples were taken through antecubital veins using aseptic technique
and the hemoglobin was analyzed using Medonic M-series M32 Hematology Analyzer. The sample was divided
into three groups based on age i.e. group-1 (age 6-59 months), group-2 (age: 5-11 years), and group-3 (age: 11-14
years). We used definitions of anemia given by the World Health Organization. The data were analyzed using
SPSS version 20.
Results: The mean age was 7.3 ± 4.3 years (range: 1-14 years). The frequency of anemia was 64.6% (n=312).
Considering gender, the percentage of anemic children among male gender was 62.9% (n=132) and among
females was 65.9% (n=180). The percentage of anemic children was highest (74.5%) in group-1 (p<0.001). The
gender could not find an association with anemia (p=0.483).
Conclusion: Anemia had a frequency of 64.6% in children under 15 years of age at GDA Hospital, Gwadar. Agegroup
of 1-59 months had the highest percentage of anemic children. The gender did not have any association
with anemia.