FREQUENCY AND FACTOTS LEADING TO IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA IN CHILDREN UNDER 2 YEARS OF AGE PRESENTING WITH HYPOCHROMIC MICROCYTIC ANEMIA AT CIVIL HOSPITAL (LUMHS), HYDERABAD

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) remains a major health concern among young children, particularly in low-income settings. We aimed to examine the frequency and underlying factors associated with IDA in children under two years presenting with hypochromic microcytic anemia at a tertiary hospital in Hyderabad, Pakistan.

Methods: We carried out a cross-sectional study involving 174 children aged 1 to 24 months. Caregivers provided sociodemographic and health information through structured interviews, and we assessed iron status using clinical and laboratory findings. We used chi-square tests to explore associations between IDA and key variables, considering p-values below 0.05 as statistically significant.

Results: We found that 39.1% of children had IDA. Children from households earning ≤25,000 PKR per month were more likely to have IDA (p = 0.03), as were those whose mothers had lower levels of education (p = 0.01). Other contributing factors included lack of exclusive breastfeeding, overcrowded households, and history of worm infestation. We did not observe significant associations with age, gender, or place of residence.

Conclusion: IDA affects a substantial proportion of children under two in this setting. Household poverty, maternal education, and preventable health conditions play a central role. Strengthening maternal education, improving early nutrition, and integrating screening and deworming into routine care may help reduce the burden of IDA during early childhood.