Open AccessPrevalence of Anaemia in Children Treated in Kepala Batas, Penang
Author(s) -
Suria Emilia Suhana Othman Tan,
Nurul Nadiah Ishak,
Narazah Mohd Yusoff
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
malaysian journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1511-4511
DOI - 10.51407/mjpch.v26i2.110
Subject(s) - medicine , logistic regression , pediatrics , thalassemia , serum iron , iron deficiency , medical record , anemia
Objective: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of anaemia in children aged six months to fifteen years old treated in a single centre from 2008 to 2018. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted among 274 children age six months to fifteen years old, treated in Advanced Medical and Dental Institute (AMDI), Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) from 2008 to 2018. The data was obtained from computerised hospital data (CARE2X), Laboratory Information System (LIS) or medical record. Parents of the eligible participants were called for any incomplete data and verbal consents were obtained. Descriptive analysis was conducted to determine the prevalence whereas the relationship between independent variables with types of anaemia were examined using simple logistic regression. Results: The prevalence of anaemia was 22.3%. Among the anaemic children, the predominant morphology form was hypochromic microcytic anaemia (82%) followed with normochromic normocytic anaemia (18%). Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) was found to be the commonest cause (24%) of hypochromic microcytic anaemia, followed by IDA with concomitant thalassaemia (14%) and thalassaemia alone (8%). In simple logistic regression analysis, no significant association was found. Conclusions: The prevalence of anaemia was 22.3%, which is considered as moderate public health problem according to WHO. Hypochromic microcytic anaemia was the predominant red cell morphology (82%) and IDA was the commonest causes (24%).