Pediatric anemia in rural Ghana: a cross-sectional study of prevalence and risk factors.

Objective: To assess anemia prevalence and identify associated parameters in children <3 years of age in a rural area of Ghana. Method: Univariate and multivariate logistic regression of cross-sectional survey results from 861 children aged <3 years attending routine immunization services in Berekum district. Results: Anemia prevalence was 73.1%; most were either mildly (31.2%) or moderately (38.7%) affected. Risk factors for anemia (hemoglobin <11.0 g/dl) in multivariate analysis were malaria parasitemia and male sex; these factors and younger age were associated with anemia severity. A partial defect in glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase was associated with decreased severity. Height-for-age, but not weight-for-age, was associated with anemia and its severity. Conclusions: Malaria parasitemia was strongly associated with anemia and its severity, suggesting that malaria control may be the most effective way to reduce the burden of anemia in rural Ghanaian children.