ABSTRACT
Objective: To determine the frequency and severity of anemia in children <15 years of age and find association of anemia with age and gender at Gwadar Development Authority [GDA] Hospital, Gwadar, Baluchistan
Study Design: Cross sectional study
Place and Duration of Study: GDA Hospital Gwadar, from June 2016 to June 2017
Material and Methods: Through consecutive sampling, 483 children reporting to the pathology department for hemoglobin estimation were sampled. The samples were taken through antecubital veins using aseptic technique and the hemoglobin was analyzed using Medonic M-series M32 Hematology Analyzer. The sample was divided into three groups based on age i.e. group-1 [age 6-59 months], group-2 [age: 5-11 years], and group-3 [age: 11-14 years]. We used definitions of anemia given by the World Health Organization. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 20
Results: The mean age was 7.3 +/- 4.3 years [range: 1-14 years]. The frequency of anemia was 64.6 percent [n=312]. Considering gender, the percentage of anemic children among male gender was 62.9 percent [n=132] and among females was 65.9 percent [n=180]. The percentage of anemic children was highest [74.5 percent] in group-1 [p<0.001]. The gender could not find an association with anemia [p=0.483]
Conclusion: Anemia had a frequency of 64.6 percent in children under 15 years of age at GDA Hospital, Gwadar. Agegroup of 1-59 months had the highest percentage of anemic children. The gender did not have any association with anemia