Ayogu Rufina N B, Okafor Adaobi M, Ene-Obong Henrietta N
Department of Home Science, Nutrition, and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria;
Department of Home Science, Nutrition, and Dietetics, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
Food Nutr Res. 2015 May 6;59:26223. doi: 10.3402/fnr.v59.26223. eCollection 2015.
Schoolchildren are vulnerable to anaemia because of their higher iron need to meet the demands of puberty and adolescence.
The survey determined the haemoglobin levels of schoolchildren aged 6-15 years and the factors affecting their haemoglobin status.
Data were obtained through a cross sectional survey of 450 randomly selected schoolchildren in Ede-Oballa, Nsukka, Enugu State, Nigeria. Ninety were selected for clinical examination, biochemical tests, and nutrient intake study. Haemoglobin, malaria, and stool analysis were carried out by the cyanmethaemoglobin, thin blood film, and wet mount direct methods, respectively. Iron intake was determined by a three-day weighed food intake.
Results showed that the schoolchildren had pallor (35.6%), brittle hair (31.1%), koilonychia (2.2%), oedema (4.4%) and sore/smooth tongue (7.8%). The children also had malaria (58.9%) and Entamoeba histolytica (42.2%), hookworm (36.7%), tapeworm (35.6%), whipworm (34.5%), and roundworm (27.9%) infestations. Iron intake was inadequate (<100% of recommended nutrient intake) for most of the children. The mean haemoglobin levels of the schoolchildren were low. The 6-9, 10-12, and 13-15 year olds had 9.0, 9.1, and 9.3 g/dl, respectively. Most (85.5%) of them had anaemia. Moderate anaemia was prevalent in 62.2%. Severe anaemia affected the 6-9 year olds more. Malaria (P<0.001), Entamoeba histolytica (P<0.01), hookworm (P<0.05), tapeworm (P<0.01), and whipworm (P<0.001) caused significant reduction in haemoglobin level. Age (b=1.284, P<0.05), birth order (b=-0.629, P<0.01), frequency of illness attack (b=-1.372, P<0.01), household size (b=-0.526, P<0.05), and frequency of skipping breakfast (b=-1.542, P<0.001) were factors that influenced the haemoglobin status of the children.
The schoolchildren had poor iron status as a result of consumption of plant sources of iron with low bioavailability, parasitic infections, birth order, skipping of breakfast, large household size, and frequent bouts of illnesses.
学童由于对铁的需求量较高，以满足青春期和青少年时期的需求，因而易患贫血症。
该调查测定了6至15岁学童的血红蛋白水平以及影响其血红蛋白状况的因素。
通过对尼日利亚埃努古州Nsukka的Ede - Oballa地区随机抽取的450名学童进行横断面调查获取数据。选取90名学童进行临床检查、生化检测和营养摄入研究。血红蛋白、疟疾和粪便分析分别采用氰化高铁血红蛋白法、薄血膜法和直接湿片法进行检测。铁摄入量通过连续三天的食物称重法确定。
结果显示，学童存在面色苍白（35.6%）、头发脆弱（31.1%）、匙状甲（2.2%）、水肿（4.4%）以及舌痛/光滑舌（7.8%）的情况。这些儿童还感染了疟疾（58.9%）和溶组织内阿米巴（42.2%）、钩虫（36.7%）、绦虫（35.6%）、鞭虫（34.5%）以及蛔虫（27.9%）。大多数儿童的铁摄入量不足（<推荐营养素摄入量的100%）。学童的平均血红蛋白水平较低。6至9岁、10至12岁以及13至15岁的儿童血红蛋白水平分别为9.0、9.1和9.3克/分升。他们中的大多数（85.5%）患有贫血症。中度贫血症的患病率为62.2%。重度贫血症对6至9岁儿童的影响更大。疟疾（P<0.001）、溶组织内阿米巴（P<0.01）、钩虫（P<0.05）、绦虫（P<0.01）以及鞭虫（P<0.001）导致血红蛋白水平显著降低。年龄（b = 1.284，P<0.05）、出生顺序（b = -0.629，P<0.01）、疾病发作频率（b = -1.372，P<0.01）、家庭规模（b = -0.526，P<0.05）以及不吃早餐的频率（b = -1.542，P<0.001）是影响儿童血红蛋白状况的因素。
由于食用生物利用率低的植物性铁源、寄生虫感染、出生顺序、不吃早餐、家庭规模大以及频繁患病，学童的铁状况较差。
