Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies, Department of Health Promotion, Education and Disability, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Department of Community Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
Ital J Pediatr. 2018 Nov 26;44(1):142. doi: 10.1186/s13052-018-0588-4.
Anaemia is the world's second cause of disability and it affects over half of pre-school children in developing countries and at least 30-40% in industrial countries. In poorer malaria-endemic countries, anemia is one of the commonest preventable causes of death in children under 5 years. This study sought to determine the perceived causes, signs and symptoms as well prevention of childhood anaemia among mothers of children under 5 years in Kumasi, Ghana.
A descriptive hospital-based cross-sectional study design with a sample of 228 patients attending the University Hospital, KNUST was used. A simple random sampling technique was applied in sampling and a structured questionnaire was used to collect data which was analyzed using SPSS statistical tools.
The study found that anemia was mostly perceived to be caused by poor feeding practices (43%) and fever (37%). The signs and symptoms mentioned mostly were pale conjunctiva (47%) and pale palm (44%). It was suggested that it could be prevented by giving adequate nutrition (23%), regular deworming (19%) as well as exclusive breastfeeding (25%). Mothers education and the number of children were found to be associated with the perception regarding anaemia as respondents who had completed SHS/A level were 5.14 times likely to have a higher knowledge score on Anaemia (AOR = 5.14; 95% CI; 1.01-21.8). Also, mothers who had 5 to 6 children were 1.65 times likely to have higher knowledge score on Anaemia (AOR = 1.65; 95% CI; 0.02-2.32).
Previous experience with Anaemia and higher educational level results in better understanding of Anaemia. Therefore, extensive health education on anemia should be undertaken by the hospital authorities in collaboration with the Ministry of Health to improve knowledge of Anaemia.
贫血是世界上第二大致残原因，它影响了发展中国家一半以上的学龄前儿童，以及至少 30-40%的工业化国家儿童。在较贫穷的疟疾流行国家，贫血是 5 岁以下儿童最常见的可预防死亡原因之一。本研究旨在确定加纳库马西 5 岁以下儿童母亲对儿童贫血的感知原因、体征和症状以及预防方法。
采用描述性医院横断面研究设计，对 228 名在 KNUST 大学医院就诊的患者进行了抽样。采用简单随机抽样技术进行抽样，使用结构化问卷收集数据，使用 SPSS 统计工具进行分析。
研究发现，贫血主要被认为是由不良喂养习惯（43%）和发热（37%）引起的。提到的体征和症状主要是苍白的结膜（47%）和苍白的手掌（44%）。研究表明，通过提供充足的营养（23%）、定期驱虫（19%）以及纯母乳喂养（25%）可以预防贫血。母亲的教育程度和孩子的数量与对贫血的认知有关，完成 SHS/A 水平的受访者对贫血的知识评分更高的可能性是 5.14 倍（优势比=5.14；95%置信区间；1.01-21.8）。此外，有 5 到 6 个孩子的母亲对贫血的知识评分更高的可能性是 1.65 倍（优势比=1.65；95%置信区间；0.02-2.32）。
对贫血的先前经验和较高的教育水平会导致对贫血的更好理解。因此，医院当局应与卫生部合作，开展广泛的贫血健康教育，以提高对贫血的认识。
