RESUMEN
Prevalence of anemia in Pakistan is high. Magnitude of anemia is well studied in pregnant woman and infants in Pakistan, but we do not have enough data on school age children. The aim of this study was to find the frequency of anemia in apparently healthy primary school age population in Islamabad and its suburban area. All children between the ages of 5 and 14 years attending participating non-formulary schools in Islamabad and its suburbs were enrolled in the study. Children attending these schools belong to low to lower middle socioeconomic status. Hemoglobin level was determined in all subjects and a level <11.5 gm/dl was considered as anemia. A total of 319 children were enrolled. Eighty-seven [27%] children were found to be anemic. Mean hemoglobin concentration was 12.1 gm/dl. There was no significant difference between mean hemoglobin concentrations of males vs. female children. Anemia is a significant problem in our apparently health school going children of low to lower middle class. We suggest that primary school age children must be screened for anemia and treated