Knowledge of Mothers on Factors Associated with Anaemia among Children under Five Years Old in Orile-Agege General Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria

Authors

  • Josephine Oyebimpe Ajala University College Hospital Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
  • Abosede Catherine Ojerinde University College Hospital Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4247.2015.04.02.2

Keywords:

Anaemia, culture, malnutrition, morbidity, mortality.

Abstract

Anaemia in children under five years old is a public health concern worldwide. In developing countries about 12 million children under five years old die each year from preventable causes. The deaths of over 6 million are either directly or indirectly attributed to malnutrition, mainly under-nutrition that leads to anaemia and constitutes a high percentage of infant and child mortality. This descriptive survey attempted to assess the knowledge of mothers on factors associated with anaemia among children under five years old in the child welfare clinic at Orile-Agege General Hospital, Lagos. The 120 respondents were conveniently selected and data was collected through a close ended question items and analyzed with Pearson Product Moment Correlation.

The findings revealed that 111(92.5%) of the respondents agreed that one of the major causes of anaemia was malnutrition. Consequently, respondents agreed that children who suffer from anaemia are prone to infections, delayed psychomotor development, poor academic performance and low scores in intelligent (IQ) tests which deprived them the opportunity to be physically fit and function at optimal level. There was no significant relationship between occurrence of anaemia and mothers’ educational status (r = .29) as well as their socio economic status (r = .091). The religious belief of the respondents also had no bearing with the occurrence of anaemia (r =.152). It was therefore recommended that there is need for more public enlightenment on the causes, prevention and complications of anaemia. Capacity building for health care providers to adequately equip them with updates and facts on the management of prevailing rate of anaemia effectively.

Anaemia in children under five years old is a public health concern worldwide. In developing countries about 12 million children under five years old die each year from preventable causes. The deaths of over 6 million are either directly or indirectly attributed to malnutrition, mainly under-nutrition that leads to anaemia and constitutes a high percentage of infant and child mortality. This descriptive survey attempted to assess the knowledge of mothers on factors associated with anaemia among children under five years old in the child welfare clinic at Orile-Agege General Hospital, Lagos. The 120 respondents were conveniently selected and data was collected through a close ended question items and analyzed with Pearson Product Moment Correlation.

The findings revealed that 111(92.5%) of the respondents agreed that one of the major causes of anaemia was malnutrition. Consequently, respondents agreed that children who suffer from anaemia are prone to infections, delayed psychomotor development, poor academic performance and low scores in intelligent (IQ) tests which deprived them the opportunity to be physically fit and function at optimal level. There was no significant relationship between occurrence of anaemia and mothers’ educational status (r = .29) as well as their socio economic status (r = .091). The religious belief of the respondents also had no bearing with the occurrence of anaemia (r =.152). It was therefore recommended that there is need for more public enlightenment on the causes, prevention and complications of anaemia. Capacity building for health care providers to adequately equip them with updates and facts on the management of prevailing rate of anaemia effectively.

References

Adesokan FOO Reproductive health for all ages 2nd ed. Faxwell Nigeria limite Ekiti State Nigeria 2011.

Adegoke S, Ayansanwo A, Isaac O, Okeniyi J. Iron deficiency in childhood. Peadiatrics Med J 2010; 8: 12-5.

Ferreira dos Santos R, Campos Gonazalez ES, Grade de Arrud IC. Prevalence of anaemia in under five year old children in a children’s hospital in Recife, Brazil. J Rev Brasil Hematol Hermoter 2011; 33: [cited 2014 April1]; Available from www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc

World Health Organization Iron deficiency anaemia: assessment, prevention and control: a guide for program managers; Geneva; W H O 2001.

Onyemaobi GA, Onimawo IA. Anaemia prevalence among under-five in Imo state Nigeria. Aust J Basic Appl Sci 2011; 5: 122-7. [cited 2014 March 15]; Available from http://connection.ebscohost.com

World Health Organization protecting, promoting and supporting breastfeeding: a joint WHO/UNICEF statement 1989 Geneva.

World Health Organization. Worldwide prevalence of anaemia (2005-2011) WHO global data base on anaemia 2011 [cited 2014 March 10]; Available from http/who/intpublications

Ewusie JE, Ahiadeke C, Beyene J, Hamid JS. Anaemia among under-5 children in the Ghanaian population: estimates from the Ghana demographic and health survey. J BMC Public Health 2014; 14: 626. [cited 2014 June 20]; Available from http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2458/14/626

Fleming AF, Menendez G, Alonso PL. Malaria related anaemia. Parasitol J Today 2000; 16: 469-76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0169-4758(00)01774-9

Muoneke VV, Roland C, Ibekwe HV, et al. Factors associated with mortality in under-five children with severe anemia in Ebonyi, Nigeria. Indian Pediatric 2012; 49: 119-23. [cited 2014 January 3]; Available from http://www.indianpediatrics.net/feb2012/feb-

Sabitu K, Iliyasu Z, Hassan SS, Mande AT. Evaluation of a community level nutritional information system for action in a rural community of Zaria, northern Nigeria. Ann African Med 2004; 3: 120-5.

Janz NK, Marshall HB. The health belief model: a decade later. J Health Educ Behavior 1989; 11: 1-47. [cited2014 June 20]; Available from http://sphweb.bumc.bu.edu/otlt/ MPH-Modules/SB/SB721-Models/SB721-Models2.html

Brugnara C, Platt OS. The neonatal erythrocyte and its disorders in hematology of infant and childhood 7th ed. Nathan DC Orkin Philadelphia. 2009.

Kazal LA. Prevention of iron deficiency in infants and toddler. Am Fam Physician 2002; 1; 66: 1217-22. [cited 2014 June 20]; Available from www.aafp.org/afp

Zahira B, Muhammad IZ, Ashfaq AM, Tanvir A. Socio-cultural factors affecting anemia and their effects on mother, and child health in rural areas of district Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan. Pak J Agri Sci 2010; 47: 59-65. [cited 2014 February 21]; Available from http://www.pakjas.com.pk

Downloads

Published

2015-06-01

How to Cite

Ajala, J. O., & Ojerinde, A. C. (2015). Knowledge of Mothers on Factors Associated with Anaemia among Children under Five Years Old in Orile-Agege General Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria. International Journal of Child Health and Nutrition, 4(2), 78–82. https://doi.org/10.6000/1929-4247.2015.04.02.2

Issue

Section

General Articles