Iron Deficiency Anemia In Children: Prevalence, Gender Distribution, And Associated Socioeconomic Factors In Peshawar

Abstract

Iron deficiency anemia is a condition during which the human body doesn’t have enough iron level to produce healthy red blood cells (RBCs) which are required for oxygen transportation and ultimately cellular respiration. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a significant public health concern that adversely affects behavior, work performance, and physical and mental development. Certain populations, including pregnant and nursing women, young children, and school-age children, are particularly vulnerable to this condition. Purpose of this particular study was to; To determine the frequency of Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in anemic children between 1-14 years of age, check the impact of Iron deficiency anemia on public health, Understand Key factors that lead to IDA. This study employed a cross-sectional descriptive design to assess the prevenance of iron deficiency anemia among young children. This study was conducted across various hospitals in the Peshawar District and assessed the prevalence of IDA among 385 children. Findings revealed that iron deficiency anemia was present in 43.4% of the cases studied. The prevalence was slightly higher in males (43.7%) compared to females (43.1%). Among the age groups, children aged 9-12 years exhibited the highest incidence of iron deficiency anemia at 28.6%, followed by those aged 1-5 years at 26%. Socioeconomic factors also played a critical role in the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia. The data indicated that iron deficiency anemia was most common among children from the lowest socioeconomic class (56.6%), followed by the middle class (38.0%) and the upper class (32.3%). Of the 216 preschoolers identified as anemic, 110 were male and 106 were female. The severity of IDA varied by gender, with 22.6% of anemic boys experiencing mild iron deficiency anemia, 20.3% moderate iron deficiency anemia, and 7.8% severe iron deficiency anemia. In girls, the figures were 20.8% for mild iron deficiency anemia, 18.9% for moderate iron deficiency anemia, and 9.2% for severe iron deficiency anemia. Parental education level was also correlated with the prevalence of IDA cases. Children of illiterate parents showed the highest rates of iron deficiency anemia (57.6%), followed by those whose parents had completed matriculation (45%), bachelor's degrees (37.4%), and master's degrees (36.2%). The primary causes of iron deficiency anemia identified in this study include poverty, low parental education, and low socioeconomic status. Considering the numbers it is clear that the conditions must be dealt with with some proper strategies to avoid serious health deficits. Parents must be educated about nutritional requirements because children need a balanced diet during their juvenile phase of life.

Keywords: IDA, Parental education, psychological development, socioeconomic status