Anaemia in early childhood

Prevalence, co-existence with undernutrition, and its correlates in urban slums of Belagavi

Bibliographic Data

ID15382798
AuthorsDeshna Oswal (0000-0001-5966-8513, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College), N S Mahantashetti (Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College), Mubashir Angolkar (0000-0002-0272-3611, Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, corresponding author), Manisha Singh (0000-0002-4905-5403, KLE University), Mayank Singh (0009-0001-4163-9041), Shivani Haritay (Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College), Madan M Godbole (0000-0001-9604-8284, KLE University), Madan Godbole
Year2026
Volume26
Issue1
Publication date2026-03-03
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueBMC Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1471-2458 • E-ISSN: 1471-2458
PublisherBioMed Central (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1186/s12889-026-26404-6
PMID41776450
OpenAlexW7133333969
LanguageEN
References cited27

Anaemia poses a significant barrier to a child’s growth and development, particularly in urban slums. Additionally, anaemia frequently co-exists with other forms of undernutrition, exacerbating health risks. The present analysis sought to determine the burden of anaemia, examine its co-existence with undernutrition, and identify its associated factors among children aged 9–36 months residing in the urban slums of Belagavi city. This cross-sectional study analysed baseline data from a larger community-based study involving 137 mother-child pairs. Data on child, maternal, and household characteristics were gathered using a pre-structured questionnaire. Venous blood samples were analysed to determine haemoglobin levels, and anthropometric measurements were used to assess nutritional status. Descriptive statistics, univariate, and multivariable analyses were conducted to assess associations between potential risk factors, anaemia, and its co-existence with undernutrition. The prevalence of anaemia among children residing in urban slums was 62%. Co-existence of anaemia with stunting, wasting, and underweight was observed among 26.8%, 6.5%, and 17.4%of the children, respectively. Maternal height ≥ 150 cm was associated with higher odds of anaemia (AOR 2.70; 95% CI 1.04–7.01); given the small short-stature subgroup (n = 29), this estimate is imprecise and should be interpreted cautiously. Additionally, low birth weight and lower maternal education were associated with the co-existence of anaemia and undernutrition. A high burden of anaemia was reported among children living in urban slums of Belagavi. The frequent co-occurrence of anaemia with stunting is concerning and underscores the need for future research. An unexpected, imprecise association between maternal height ≥ 150 cm and anaemia warrant cautious interpretation and confirmation in larger studies. Normal birth weight and higher maternal education were protective against the co-existence of anaemia and undernutrition

Anemia · Anthropometry · Biostatistics · Malnutrition · Odds · Odds ratio · Public health · Underweight · Child Nutrition and Water Access · Global Maternal and Child Health · Iron Metabolism and Disorders · Epidemiology