A Cross-Sectional Study of Anemia among Children Aged 1–12 Years Attending a Tertiary Care Hospital.

Abstract

Background:

Anemia in childhood remains a major public health concern in India because it influences growth, immunity, school performance, and neurocognitive development. Hospital-based data are useful for understanding the clinical burden and the distribution of anemia severity and morphology among children presenting for care.

 Objectives:

To determine the prevalence, severity, and morphological pattern of anemia among children aged 1–12 years attending a tertiary care hospital and to describe its distribution across age, sex, socioeconomic status, and dietary iron intake groups.

 Methods:

This cross-sectional study included 200 children aged 1–12 years. Demographic, socioeconomic, and dietary information was collected using a structured proforma. Hemoglobin estimation and peripheral smear examination were carried out for all participants. Anemia was classified according to age-specific hemoglobin cutoffs and further graded as mild, moderate, or severe.

 Results:

Among 200 children, 118 were anemic, giving an overall prevalence of 59.0%. Moderate anemia was the commonest grade, followed by mild and severe anemia. Anemia was more frequent in younger children, especially those aged 1–3 years, and was slightly higher among females than males. Children from lower socioeconomic strata and those with inadequate dietary iron intake showed a substantially higher burden. Microcytic hypochromic anemia was the predominant peripheral smear pattern, followed by normocytic normochromic anemia.

 Conclusion:

Anemia constituted a substantial burden among children attending this tertiary care center, with the highest vulnerability seen in younger age groups and socioeconomically disadvantaged children. The predominance of microcytic hypochromic smears supports a strong contribution of nutritional iron deficiency to the observed burden.

 Recommendations:

Routine screening of high-risk children, nutrition-focused counselling for caregivers, timely iron supplementation, and strengthened follow-up within pediatric services should be integrated into hospital practice to improve early detection and management.