Predisposing factors to anaemia among children under 5 years seeking treatment at Kiryandongo General Hospital In Kiryandongo District
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Date
2018-04
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Kampala International University. School of Health Sciences (Western Campus)
Abstract
Anaemia is a condition of low level of hemoglobin less than 7.0g/dl in children and 5g/dl in
adults. Anaemia has remained a common childhood problem associated with various degrees of
mortality and morbidity especially in children less than five years of age; the major cause in
developing countries like Uganda being low intake of iron and limited use of iron-fortified infant
foods and cereals (MOH, 1997) plus other diseases such as HIV/AIDS, parasites such as
Plasmodium species and hookworm. This study was to determine the predisposing factors to anaemia in children below the age of five years who got treatment from Kiryandongo Hospital and establish the level of awareness among parents of these children. METHOD: A purposive sampling technique and non-probability qualitative methods of data collection were employed where by 100 children below the age of five years getting treatment in Kiryandongo Hospital who presented with signs and symptoms of anemia were included. RESULTS: The age group of 3-5 years had majority of the children (39%) and the majority (64%) were females. Most of the caretakers were parents, 68% and the majority had attained primary and secondary education, 40%. Majority of the caretakers were peasants (55%).47% of the children had a balanced diet weekly. 58% did not have a community based health education and did not know about anaemia. Majority of the children who were anaemic had malaria, 55%. Most respondents 36% reside around the crop plantation.
Description
A research dissertation submitted to the faculty of medicine and dentistry in partial fulfilment for the award of the Degree of Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor Of Surgery in Kampala International University-western Campus.
Keywords
Anaemia among children, Seeking treatment