Determinants of anemia clustering among mothers and children in Indonesia.

OBJECTIVES

To describe risk factors for clustering of anemia among mothers and children in Indonesia.

METHODS

An anemia cluster was defined as hemoglobin <12 g/dl in the mother and <11 g/dl in the youngest child, aged 6-59 months.

RESULTS

Anemia clustering occurred in 4907 (18.3%) of 26 809 urban families and 12 756 (15.5%) of 82 291 rural families. Maternal overweight/obesity, older child age, consumption of fortified milk by the child, use of iodized salt, vitamin A supplementation, paternal smoking and greater expenditure on animal and plant source foods were associated with lower odds of anemia clustering. Older maternal age, maternal underweight, ≥2 children in the family and >4 individuals eating from the same kitchen were associated with greater odds of anemia clustering.

CONCLUSION

Fortified milk, iodized salt, vitamin A supplementation and greater expenditure on plant and animal foods are among modifiable risk factors associated with lower risk of anemia clustering in Indonesia.