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A Study on the Prevalence of Anemia amongst the Children Residing in the Urban Slums of Kolkata
Panchali Dasgupta1, & Moumee Jesmin2
1 Consultant Nutritionist, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Bidhannagar, Kolkata. West Bengal, 2 Development Practitioner, EHSAAS- Feel the Desire of Nature and Society, Mithani, Asansol, West Bengal
Correspondence: Moumee Jesmin, e-mail: swjesmin95@gmail.com/p>
ABSTRACT
Background: Anaemia is a condition of having a low number of red blood cells to carry adequate oxygen to the body’s tissues. Iron deficiency anaemia and vitamin deficiency anaemia are very common among children. According to WHO data, in 2019, global anaemia prevalence was 39.8% (95% UI 36.0%, 43.8%) in children aged 6–59 months, equivalent to 269 million children with anaemia. Those children who live in slum areas are prone to being malnourished in terms of height, weight, haemoglobin and other micronutrient deficiencies because of social and health disadvantages that are associated with extreme poverty, unhygienic practices, lack of knowledge and education etc. Aim: The aim of this study is to know the prevalence of anaemia amongst the children residing in the urban slums of Kolkata. Methods & Materials: The study follows a quantitative research approach and was conducted in a few urban slums of Kolkata, West Bengal. Simple Random Sampling is being used to reach the respondents. The data was collected using a survey questionnaire developed by a team of nutrition specialists of Hola Nutriment. Results: In the study sample of 1000 children, 56.7% are male and 43.3% are female. Among them, 60.6 % of males are anaemic and 77.59% of females are anaemic. Conclusion: The findings of the study have shown that there is an association between low-birth weight and anaemia. The number of antenatal check-ups is also correlated with anaemia and low birth weight.
Keywords: Children, Anaemia, Low-Birth Weight, Urban Slums, Kolkata.
INTRODUCTION:
Anaemia is a condition of having a low
number of red blood cells to carry adequate
oxygen to the body’s tissues. Iron deficiency
anaemia and vitamin deficiency anaemia are
very common among children. According to
WHO data, in 2019, global anaemia prevalence
was 39.8% (95% UI 36.0%, 43.8%) in children
aged 6–59 months, equivalent to 269 million
children with anaemia. There are a few causes
of anaemia among children; being premature
or low birth weight, poverty, lack of proper
diet or iron-rich foods, etc. It is very common
to experience all the criteria’s which can
cause anaemia especially amongst children
residing in the urban slums. Slums are
generally situated in congested, unhygienic
areas with little to no health and hygiene
awareness among them. Various studies have
shown that there is a chance of having an
anaemic baby if the mother is anaemic. The
primary goal of this study is to know the prevalence of anaemia amongst children in
urban slums. For this study, children aged 6–
59 months were taken. Mothers and primary
care givers were the respondents. There is a
significant relationship between low birth
weight and anaemia. It is also found that
babies of mothers who had family support and
had all their antenatal check-ups are less
anaemic and malnourished. According to
World Health Organization, weight at birth
of 2500 g is considered a low-birth weight.
To measure the haemoglobin level, an Hb test
was conducted with a haemoglobin metre in
the field by health experts.
Malnutrition, anaemia all these nutritional
deficiency diseases are common among
children, not only in India but worldwide also.
The study will aid in the implementation of
appropriate measures to prevent anaemia
among children living in Kolkata’s urban
slums
AIM
The aim of this study is to know the prevalence of anaemia among children living in Kolkata’s urban slums.
OBJECTIVES
- To know the percentage of anaemic children in urban slums of Kolkata.
- To find the relationship between low-birth weight and anaemia among children.
- To understand the relation between mother’s antenatal check-up and baby’s birth weight.
METHODS AND MATERIALS
- Study design: A Knowledge Attitude Practice based study was done
- Study setting: Urban Slums of Kolkata
- Study population: 1000 Children (0-3 years).
- Period of study: 1 year (July 2021 to July 2022).
- Inclusion criteria: All the children within the ages of 0 to 3 years, residing in the urban slums of Kolkata.
- Exclusion criteria: Those who were ill and unwilling to participate.
- Sample size: 1000 children
- Sampling method: Simple random sampling using computer generated random number table
Study Technique:
- Face to face interview
- Haemoglobin e stimation using a hemoglobinometer
Study Tools:
- A pre-designed, pretested Questionnaire
- Hemoglobinometer for measuri ng Haemoglobin
Data analysis: Data was entered in M.S Excel
sheet & was analysed using appropriate
database. Data was presented in the form of
frequency tables & graph/charts.
Definition and cut-offs:
Low birth weight baby: Low birth weight
(LBW) is defined as a birth weight of less than
2500g (up to and including 2499 g), as per
the World Health Organization (WHO). [5, 6,
7]
Anaemia: Anaemia in childhood is defined
as a haemoglobin (Hb) concentration below
cut off levels established by the World Health
Organization: <11 g/dl in children aged 6–59
months, <11.5 g/dl in children aged 5–11
years and 12 g/dl in older children (aged 12–
14).
RESULTS
In this section, the researchers have tried to analyze the collected data through Knowledge Attitude & Practice survey by using MS Excel.
Table-1: shows the distribution of the head of the family. This table shows that majority of the males (78%) are the head of the family. Only a few portions of women (22%) are head of the family.
Table-1: shows the distribution of the head of the family. This table shows that majority of the males (78%) are the head of the family. Only a few portions of women (22%) are head of the family.
DISCUSSION
From table 1, majority of the Head of the
family are male. Only a fewer population of
women are head of the family.
Around 68% of the children which is more
than half of the total children population were
found to be anaemic. The percentage of low
birth baby was found to 58.7%.
It is also observed that majority of the children
are not exclusively breastfed for the initial first
6 months of birth. Exclusive breastfeeding
lowers the risk of various respiratory tract infections and diarrhoea. It also protects
infants as well as children from iron
deficiency anaemia. The percentage of
anaemia was greater amongst children who
were not breastfed exclusively rather than the
ones who were exclusively breastfed.
It is also evident that the children whose birth
weight was lower had a pre disposition to be
anaemic.
One of the major causes of low birth weight
can be inadequate dietary consumption of
foods during pregnancy. Some other causes
are successive pregnancies, lesser number of
antenatal check-ups, etc
It can also be observed from the data that
females have a greater tendency to be
anaemic rather than males
CONCLUSION
Although iron deficiency is the main cause of
anaemia, the condition’s genesis is complex
and includes aspects such as consumption of
a proper diet, bioavailability of the
micronutrients, etc.
Compared to women who do not have anaemia
during pregnancy, pregnant women with
haemoglobin levels below 11 g/dL have a
greater chance of giving birth to infants with
low birth weight.
In order to improve the nutritional status of
these children, certain points must be
promoted. Promotion of antenatal and postnatal check-ups, exclusive breastfeeding and
a low-cost diet rich in iron will not only reduce
anaemia in children but also promote a
positive health amongst the children residing
in these slums.
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Conflict of interest: None
Role of funding source: None
Role of funding source: None
ISSN: 2582-1393 (Online)