Factors Contributing to Anaemia in Children Under Five Years in the Ga East Municipality, Ghana

Abstract

Background: Children under the age of five years are very vulnerable to so many conditions, including anaemia. Anaemia affects all nations globally and has significant adverse health consequences as well as adverse impacts on social and economic development. It is a major global public health problem with serious effects on human health and has affected over two (2) billion people worldwide. The main objective of this study was to assess the factors that contribute to the high prevalence of anaemia among children less than five years in the Ga East Municipality of Ghana. Methods: The study employed a cross-sectional design where quantitative data were collected. The study took place in some selected communities in the Ga East Municipality. A well-structured questionnaire was used as a tool for collecting data. The study population included all mothers with children under- five years of age and are residents in the selected communities. A sample size of 282 mothers with children under five years was selected. Multistage sampling technique was used in selecting the sample. The multiple logistic regression models were used to assess the influence of demographic factors on knowledge and prevalence of anaemia. All significant associations and influence were determined at a 0.05 level of significance. Results: The prevalence of anaemia in children was found as 47.9% (95%CI: 42%-54%). Also, family history of anaemia was 49.7% of the respondents. Bivariate analysis showed a significant association among almost all the variables and the anaemia condition in children except for the mother’s age (p=0.486), the number of children (p=0.60) and delivery status (p=0.271). Factors that were statistically significant were mother’s education, mother’s occupation, family type and family income (p<0.001). Again, other factors such as father’s occupation and religious affiliation also had a p-value of <0.01. Child’s birth weight was also significant with p-value=0.037. Conclusions: It was noted that the high awareness of childhood anaemia among caregivers or mothers does not necessarily translate to high knowledge levels. More than half of the participants had poor knowledge on the signs and symptoms, complications and management of childhood anaemia. The formal high school attainable levels among the respondents also did not reflect on their knowledge level. Additionally, mothers or caregivers from the nuclear family and those who have a family history of childhood anaemia were the only groups found to have a significant association with high knowledge level. The prevalence of anaemia in children was also slightly high as nearly half of the children were diagnosed with the condition.