Iron deficiency anemia among children at Benghazi Libya

مؤسسة الشرق الأوسط للنشر العلمي

عادةً ما يتم الرد في غضون خمس دقائق

الإصدار السادس عشر: 6 سبتمبر 2022
من مجلة الشرق الأوسط للنشر العلمي

Iron deficiency anemia among children at Benghazi Libya

Fatma Yousuf M. Ziuo Twfeike Elbagrmi Mariam Ambarak. S. Busaadia3 Nagwa H. S.Ahmida & Safa F . al-jreby
Abstract

Abstract

Background : Iron deficiency anemia is the most common type of anemia and nutritional deficiency in many developing countries and has significant health, social and economic consequences. In Libya, iron deficiency anemia represents one of the most serious public health problems, especially in children. However, data on the prevalence and risk factors for nutritional iron deficiency anemia, especially in school-age children in Libya, are limited. The study aimed to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia among children  at Benghazi during 2018 -2019 and to identify some environmental and social factors may be  associated with iron deficiency anemia in children in Benghazi ,Libya .  Methodology : a cross-sectional study was conducted in two setting.  A sample of children  from pediatrics hospital and a primary school children samples conducted for two years, 2018 -2019. The study samples from pediatric hospital were divided into three age groups (- < 1year), (≥1-6 years) (> 6 -12 years).  A structured questionnaire was designed and used to gather the sociodemographic and  clinical examination was carried out for the second group of children at  primary school children by an accompanying physician . Results : f the study of  hospital cases revealed that about  50 % of children had iron deficiency anemia , iron reserves of males are 46 m/dl higher than that of females 34 m/dl, no statistical significance. The second group of the study, 27.3% of  school students had anemia ,  60%  of age group (4-6 years) were suffering from iron deficiency and there was  a statistically significant relationship between the prevalence of anemia and the educational level of the parents and no statistical differences between children’s anemia and family income. Conclusion: the study revealed that  prevalence of iron deficiency was high in children, there should be a special program for the government education and nutritional support, specifically from the Ministries of Education and Health, and the program includes educational programs targeting both children and parents

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