Abstract:
Children are particularly vulnerable to iron-deficiency anemia because of their
increased iron requirements during periods of rapid growth, especially in the first
five years of life. Sri Lanka, a lower-middle-income country with a high
prevalence of under nutrition mostly in the children. Currently Sri Lanka is facing
a triple burden of malnutrition and the current food and nutrition insecurity is
turning on a red alert. This study explores the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia
among paediatric patients at Base Hospital Kalmunai North. A cross sectional
analytical study was carried out among children (101), age group of 1-14 who
attended the paediatric clinic and admitted to paediatric ward of Base Hospital,
Kalmunai North over a period of 6 months from January to June 2022. The iron
deficiency anaemia among children was diagnosed by clinical examinations and
the following blood parameters; full blood count (Hb), serum ferritin (SF) level
and C - reactive protein (CRP) were measured. WHO defined cut-off levels were
used to assess the anaemia (Hb < 11g/dl) iron deficiency (SF < 15 µg/l). To
categorize the degree of anemia, the following cut-off points were used: 10.0-10.9
g/dl- mild anemia; 7.0-9.9 g/dl - moderate anemia; <7 g/dl -severe anemia.
According to the findings of the study, the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia
was 7.9% of the paediatric patients at Base Hospital in Kalmunai North. In
comparison to previously published national prevalence rates in Sri Lanka (7.3 %),
the IDA prevalence is greater in this region. It was most common in children
between the ages of 1-6 with moderate IDA (4 %). Children between the ages of 1
and 3 had mild to moderate IDA. Further studies must be done on the causes for
IDA and need awareness programmes on nutritional education among the children
and the parents.
