PREVALENCE OF ANEMIA IN THE SCHOOL CHILDREN

Anaemia in childhood is defined as a haemoglobin (Hb) concentration below established cut-off levels. These levels vary depending on the age of the child and on the laboratory in which the blood sample is tested. The aim of the study was to to estimate the prevalence of anemia among school children aged 7-14 years from the districts of Vlora, Fier and Lushnje in Albania. The study was carried out from 2012 to 2014. A total of 224 pupils participated in the study. The study showed that the overall prevalence of anemia among children in the age between 7 and 14 years was 21%. The highest prevalence of anemia was present in the age group of the ninth year for both the sexes and the minimum frequency was in the age group of the tenth year in the girls and the 13 year for boys. The prevalence of anemia was very much higher in girls when compared to boys during between the age of 8 and 14 years. The anemia was graded according to WHO standards. It showed that 21% of girls were mildly anemic, 4% were moderately anemic and there were no severely anemic children diagnosed. As iron deficiency is the most common cause of childhood anaemia in the world, the main focus for prevention of this needs to be on education around childhood nutrition. Routine health assessments of children and adolescents, dietary counseling, and assessment of risks are components of primary prevention of iron deficiency.