BMJ Open. 2021 Aug 17;11(8):e045544. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045544.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Anaemia is a global public health problem with major health and socioeconomic consequences. Though childhood anaemia is a major public health problem in Ethiopia, there is limited evidence on the spatio-temporal variability of childhood anaemia over time in the country. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the spatio-temporal distribution and associated factors of childhood anaemia using the Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data from 2005 to 2016.
DESIGN: Survey-based cross-sectional study design was employed for the EDHS.
SETTING: Data were collected in all nine regions and two city administrations of Ethiopia in 2005, 2011 and 2016.
PARTICIPANTS: The source population for this study was all children in Ethiopia aged 6-59 months. A total of 21 302 children aged 6-59 months were included in this study.
OUTCOME MEASURE: The outcome variable was child anaemia status.
RESULTS: The prevalence of anaemia declined from 53.9% in 2005 to 44.6% in 2011, but it showed an increase in 2016 to 57.6%. The spatial analysis revealed that the spatial distribution of anaemia varied across the regions. The spatial scan statistics analysis indicated a total of 22 clusters (relative risk (RR)=1.5, p<0.01) in 2005, 180 clusters (RR=1.4, p<0.01) in 2011 and 219 clusters (RR=1.4, p<0. 0.01) in 2016, significant primary clusters were identified. The child’s age, mother’s age, maternal anaemia status, wealth index, birth order, fever, stunting, wasting status and region were significant predictors of childhood anaemia.
CONCLUSIONS: In this study, childhood anaemia remains a public health problem. The spatial distribution of childhood anaemia varied significantly across the country. Individual-level and community-level factors were associated with childhood anaemia. Therefore, in regions with a high risk of childhood anaemia, individual-level and community-level factors should be intensified by allocating additional resources and providing appropriate and tailored strategies.
PMID:34404697 | DOI:10.1136/bmjopen-2020-045544
