Anemia and associated factors among adolescent girls and boys at 10-14years in rural western China

BackgroundEvidence on anemia and associated factors among young adolescent girls and boys in rural western China is limited.MethodsWe used data from a follow-up study of adolescents (10-14years) born to women who participated in a randomized trial of antenatal micronutrient supplementation in western China. Anemia was defined by World Health Organization standards. Logistic regression was used to examine the factors associated with anemia.ResultsThe overall prevalence of anemia was 11.7% (178/1517). Female adolescents were 1.73 (95% CI 1.21, 2.48) times more likely to have anemia as compared to males. Adolescents whose mothers had completed high school were 0.35 (95% CI 0.13, 0.93) times less likely to be anemic, compared to those of whom had <3years of formal education. Household wealth was also inversely associated with anemia. The association of puberty status with anemia was modified by adolescent sex (P-value for interaction was 0.04); males with greater than mild pubertal development had reduced odds (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.15, 0.83) of anemia while there was no association among females (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.29, 1.78). Consumption of flesh foods (OR 0.58, 95% CI 0.38, 0.89), eggs (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.38, 0.93), and having a meal frequency of three times or more per day (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.48, 0.96) were also associated with a lower likelihood of anemia.ConclusionsAnemia was a mild public health problem among young adolescents in rural western China. Nutritional and social determinants were identified as predictors, warranting interventions to reduce the risk of anemia among this critical age group.

Automated summary

This study found that anemia is present among adolescents in rural western China, with factors such as gender, maternal education level, household wealth, puberty status, and dietary habits being associated with anemia risk. The results indicate the need for interventions targeting these determinants to reduce anemia prevalence in this population.