Public Health Nutrition
Volume 9, Issue 1, 2006, Pages 26-34

Anaemia, iron status and vitamin A deficiency among adolescent refugees in Kenya and Nepal (Article)

Woodruff B.A.* , Blanck H.M. , Slutsker L. , Cookson S.T. , Larson M.K. , Duffield A. , Bhatia R.
  • a Maternal and Child Nutrition Branch, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, Atlanta, GA 30341, United States
  • b Chronic Disease Nutrition Branch, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • c Malaria Branch, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • d State and Local Public Health Systems Branch, National Center for Health Marketing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • e Country Program Support Branch, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
  • f Save the Children UK, London, United Kingdom
  • g World Food Programme Regional Bureau for Asia, Bangkok, Thailand

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of anaemia (haemoglobin < 11.0 to 13.0 g dl-1 depending on age and sex group), iron deficiency (transferrin receptor concentration > 8.3 μg ml-1) and vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol < 0.7 μmol l-1) in adolescent refugees. Design: Cross-sectional surveys. Setting: Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya and seven refugee camps in Nepal. Subjects: Adolescent refugee residents in these camps. Results: Anaemia was present in 46% (95% confidence interval (CI): 42-51) of adolescents in Kenya and in 24% (95% CI: 20-28) of adolescents in Nepal. The sensitivity of palmar pallor in detecting anaemia was 21%. In addition, 43% (95% CI: 36-50) and 53% (95% CI: 46-61) of adolescents in Kenya and Nepal, respectively, had iron deficiency. In both surveys, anaemia occurred more commonly among adolescents with iron deficiency. Vitamin A deficiency was found in 15% (95% CI: 10-20) of adolescents in Kenya and 30% (95% CI: 24-37) of adolescents in Nepal. Night blindness was not more common in adolescents with vitamin A deficiency than in those without vitamin A deficiency. In Kenya, one of the seven adolescents with Bitot's spots had vitamin A deficiency. Conclusions: Anaemia, iron deficiency and vitamin A deficiency are common among adolescents in refugee populations. Such adolescents need to increase intakes of these nutrients; however, the lack of routine access makes programmes targeting adolescents difficult. Adolescent refugees should be considered for assessment along with other at-risk groups in displaced populations. © The Authors 2006.

Author Keywords

Refugees Micronutrients Dietary iron Anaemia Adolescents Vitamin A deficiency

Index Keywords

refugee retinol deficiency human Refugees Odds Ratio controlled study Confidence Intervals priority journal Health Surveys Kenya Cross-Sectional Studies school child Humans anemia Anemia, Iron-Deficiency Adolescent Vitamin A Deficiency male iron deficiency retinol female night blindness Article Adolescent Nutrition Physiology major clinical study adult pallor iron Nepal nutritional status Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-33645242701&doi=10.1079%2fPHN2005825&partnerID=40&md5=770c97970938e1e40480a3be722b43ad
DOI: 10.1079/PHN2005825
ISSN: 13689800
Cited by: 25
Original Language: English