Anemia in children aged 6–59 months was significantly associated with maternal anemia status in rural Zimbabwe

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Mutonhodza, B., Dembedza, M. P., Lark, M. R., Joy, E., Kangara, G., Njovo, H., Nyadzayo, T. K., Kalimbira, A. A., Bailey, E. H., Broadley, M., Matsungo, T. M. and Chopera, P. 2023. Anemia in children aged 6–59 months was significantly associated with maternal anemia status in rural Zimbabwe. Food Science and Nutrition. 11 (3), pp. 1232-1246. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3157

AuthorsMutonhodza, B., Dembedza, M. P., Lark, M. R., Joy, E., Kangara, G., Njovo, H., Nyadzayo, T. K., Kalimbira, A. A., Bailey, E. H., Broadley, M., Matsungo, T. M. and Chopera, P.
Abstract

Globally, anemia is a public health problem affecting mostly women of reproductive age (WRA, n = 452) and children aged 6–59 months (n = 452) from low- and lower-middle-income countries. This cross-sectional study assessed the prevalence and determinants of anemia in WRA and children aged 6–59 months in rural Zimbabwe. The venous blood sample was measured for hemoglobin utilizing a HemoCue machine. Anthropometric indices were assessed and classified based on World Health Organization standards. Socioeconomic characteristics were assessed. The median (±inter quartile range (IQR)) age of WRA was 29 ± 12 years and that for children was 29 ± 14 months. The prevalence of anemia was 29.6% and 17.9% in children and WRA, respectively, while the median (±IQR) hemoglobin levels were 13.4 ± 1.8 and 11.7 ± 1.5 g/dl among women and children, respectively. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess determinants of anemia. Anemia in children was significantly associated with maternal anemia (odds ratio (OR) = 2.02; 95% CI 1.21–3.37; p = .007) and being a boy (OR = 0.63; 95% CI 0.41–0.95; p = .029), while anemia in WRA was significantly associated with the use of unimproved dug wells as a source of drinking water (OR = 0.36; 95% CI 0.20–0.66; p = .001) and lack of agricultural land ownership (OR = 0.51; 95% CI 0.31–0.85; p = .009). Anemia is a public health problem in the study setting. The positive association between maternal and child anemia reflects the possibility of cross-generational anemia. Therefore, interventions that focus on improving preconceptual and maternal nutritional status may help to reduce anemia in low-income settings.

Year of Publication2023
JournalFood Science and Nutrition
Journal citation11 (3), pp. 1232-1246
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1002/fsn3.3157
Web address (URL)https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/fsn3.3157
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
FunderGlobal Challenges Research Fund (UKRI)
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Funder project or codeTranslating GeoNutrition: Reducing mineral micronutrient deficiencies (MMNDs) in Zimbabwe
GeoNutrition
Publisher's version
Accepted author manuscript
Copyright license
CC BY
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online05 Dec 2022
Publication process dates
Accepted11 Nov 2022
PublisherWiley
ISSN2048-7177

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