Center for Experimental Economics in Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an, China.
Hong Kong Med J. 2023 Oct;29(5):432-442. doi: 10.12809/hkmj219899. Epub 2023 Aug 1.
Anaemia is a global public health problem among children. However, few studies have examined anaemia prevalence and risk factors among Chinese children of different ages, particularly in poor rural areas. This study investigated these two aspects among children aged 6 to 23 months in poor rural areas of China.
This cross-sectional study included 1132 children aged 6 to 23 months in three prefectures of the Qinba Mountains area. A finger prick blood test for haemoglobin and anaemia was conducted, along with household surveys of socio-demographic characteristics, illness characteristics, and feeding practices. Multiple linear and logistic regression analyses were used to determine predictors of anaemia.
Overall, 42.6% of children in the study displayed anaemia. Children aged 6 to 11 months had the highest anaemia prevalence (53.6%). Anaemia risk factors differed among age-groups and throughout the overall sample. Bivariate and multivariable regression results showed that continued breastfeeding, any history of formula feeding, and consumption of iron-rich or iron-fortified foods were prominent risk factors for anaemia. However, continued breastfeeding and any history of formula feeding had the greatest impact across age-groups (both P<0.05).
Anaemia remains a severe public health problem among children aged 6 to 23 months in rural China. Healthy feeding practices, nutritional health knowledge, and nutrition improvement projects are needed to reduce the burden of anaemia among children in rural areas of China.
贫血是全球儿童面临的一个公共卫生问题。然而，很少有研究调查过中国不同年龄段儿童的贫血患病率和危险因素，特别是在贫困农村地区。本研究调查了中国贫困农村地区 6 至 23 个月大的儿童这两个方面的情况。
本横断面研究纳入了秦巴山区三个县的 1132 名 6 至 23 个月大的儿童。对血红蛋白和贫血进行了手指刺血检测，并对社会人口特征、疾病特征和喂养习惯进行了家庭调查。采用多元线性和逻辑回归分析来确定贫血的预测因素。
研究中，42.6%的儿童患有贫血。6 至 11 个月大的儿童贫血患病率最高（53.6%）。年龄组之间以及整个样本中，贫血的危险因素都有所不同。单因素和多因素回归结果表明，持续母乳喂养、有配方奶喂养史、摄入富含铁或铁强化的食物是贫血的显著危险因素。然而，持续母乳喂养和有配方奶喂养史对各年龄组的影响最大（均 P<0.05）。
贫血仍然是中国农村 6 至 23 个月大儿童面临的一个严重公共卫生问题。需要采取健康喂养措施、营养健康知识宣传和营养改善项目，以减轻中国农村地区儿童贫血的负担。
