Association between Knowledge about Anemia, Food Consumption Behaviors, and Hematocrit Level among School-Age Children in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand

Abstract

Anemia is a significant public health problem among children, especially school-age children, because their body quickly produces red blood cells to provide sufficient blood volume with plasma expansion to maintain blood concentration. This research aimed to study the anemia situation, knowledge about anemia, food consumption behaviors, and the association between knowledge, food consumption behaviors, and hematocrit level among school-age children in primary school, in Thasala district, Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. This is a descriptive study among 408 students in grades 4 to 6, aged 9–12 years. Research instruments included the children’s demographic data of the children, their knowledge about anemia, and food consumption behaviors, and hematocrit assessment. Data were analyzed using descriptive, Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, and logistic regression statistics. The results revealed that 23.2% of the samples had anemia, 0.98% had moderate anemia, and 22.22% had mild anemia. The children knew about anemia, with the mean score at a moderate level (mean = 6.63; SD = 2.51) out of 10. The mean score on food consumption behaviors was at a moderate level (mean = 17.49; SD = 3.68) out of 24. There were significantly positive correlations between the knowledge about anemia and hematocrit level at a moderate level (r = 0.45, p < 0.001). Food consumption behaviors were moderately correlated with hematocrit level (r = 0.40, p < 0.001). Confirmation with logistic regression found that knowledge about anemia (OR = 9.15, 95% CI: 4.57–18.34) and food consumption behaviors (OR = 19.09, 95% CI: 9.71–37.53) were significantly associated with hematocrit level. Conclusions: This study showed that knowledge about anemia and appropriate food consumption behaviors are associated with hematocrit levels. Enhancing knowledge about anemia and food consumption behaviors may reduce the prevalence of anemia in school-age children. Health care providers in primary care should provide health education and encourage children to eat sufficient food.