Factors associated to anemia in children below five years of age in a district of Huaraz, Ancash

Abstract

Objectives: To identify associated factors to anemia in children under five years of age in La Libertad District, Huaraz, Ancash. Methods: It is a quantitative, observational, comparative case series, retrospective study. The population was children under five years of age in La Libertad District, Huaraz, 2019. The sampling was Probabilistic. Medical history data were collected around intrinsic and extrinsic factors for anemia. An exploratory analysis was performed to determine the associated factors. The information was analyzed in Microsoft Excel 2013 software spreadsheets® and in IBM SPSS Statistics 22 program. Results: The level of moderate anemia prevailed with 30%. Both males (OR=3.66; CI 95%: 1.65-8.08) and age older than 1 year (OR=13.99; 95% CI: 3.07-63.77) were intrinsic factors associated with the higher frequency of anemia (p<0.05). Regarding the extrinsic factors, belonging to a hamlet different to Cajamarquilla (OR=3.63; CI 95%: 1.44-9.16) and not having complete basic services (OR=2.72; CI 95%: 1.24-5.97) were also associated with a higher number of cases (p<0.05). Conclusions: The factors associated with a higher frequency of anemia cases were male sex, age over 1 year, belonging to a hamlet different to Cajamarquilla and not having complete basic services.