Factors associated with malarial anaemia among children between the ages of 6 and 59 months in Nigeria, 2015.

Abstract

Abstract Background Anaemia is a public health challenge especially in areas endemic with malaria as there is an established relationship between malaria and anaemia. A single or repeat episode of malaria can result in life-threatening anaemia and, if not treated, death. More than half of all childhood deaths in Africa is probably due to severe untreated malaria which resulted in fatal anaemia. There are several factors associated with anaemia and malarial anaemia is the top cause of death of all anaemic cases in Nigeria. Malarial anaemia is the anaemia precipitated by or that occurs alongside malaria infection. There are several studies on anaemia and malaria as a risk factor for anaemia in Nigeria, especially among pregnant women, but a gap exists in identifying other factors associated with malarial anaemia. Methods This study identified the factors associated with malarial anaemia among children in Nigeria between the ages of 6 and 59 months and determined the significance of the associations using the NDHS MIS 2015 dataset. 265 children who participated in the 2015 NDHS NMIS survey and tested positive for malaria were included in the study. The study pool comprised of 135 males and 130 females. Categorical variables were described using frequency and proportion. Crude and adjusted odd ratios, as well as the 95% confidence intervals were computed. All p values less than 0.05 were considered significant. Proportions were given in one decimal place, while odd ratios and confidence intervals were given in two decimal places. Results The multivariate analysis showed that sex, wealth index, religion, geographical location, type of place of residence, age, highest educational level of caregiver, the use of mosquito nets, the use of antibiotics and antimalarials did not have a statistically significant association with malarial anaemia. Conclusion Although the variables had an association with malarial anaemia, the associations were not statistically significant. This could be as a result of the small sample size. It is recommended that the study be replicated with a larger sample size in order to assertively ascertain the statistical significance of the associations.