Factors associated with anemia in children under three years of age in Perú: analysis of the Encuesta Demográfica y de Salud Familiar, ENDES, 2007-2013

José Enrique Velásquez-Hurtado, Yuleika Rodríguez, Marco Gonzáles, Laura Astete-Robilliard, Jessica Loyola-Romaní, Walter Eduardo Vigo, Ángel Martín Rosas-Aguirre

Despite the reduction of poverty in Perú, the prevalence of anemia in the country remains high. Objective: To identify socio-demographic, child and maternal-child care factors associated with anemia in children between 6 and 35 months in Perú. Materials and methods: We conducted an analytical and descriptive study that included registered data from the national survey on demography and family health, 2007-2013, on children between 6 and 35 months old, including the measurement of blood hemoglobin. Anemia was confirmed by hemoglobin-altitude corrected values below 11 mg/dl. We used multivariate logistic regression models to assess potential associated factors for anemia. Results: Anemia prevalence was high (47.9%). Twelve factors were independently associated with anemia in children: Socio-demographic factors such as living outside Lima and Callao, in a low socioeconomic household, and having an adolescent mother with low education level; child-related factors as being male, younger than 24 months of age, and having fever in the previous two weeks, and maternal-child care factors such as lack of prenatal control in the first trimester of pregnancy, lack or short period of iron supplementation during pregnancy, house delivery, anemia detection at the moment of the survey, and lack of intestinal anti-parasite preventive treatment in the child. Conclusions: The analysis of survey data provided valuable information about factors associated with anemia in children between 6 and 35 months, which can be used to increase the coverage and effectiveness of maternal-child care practices.