Original Article
Prevalence and associates of anemia in adult men and women urban dwellers in Cameroon: a cross-sectional study in a Sub-Saharan setting
Abstract
Background: Anemia is a public health problem worldwide, with the greatest burden in low income settings. This high burden contrasts with the paucity of community data, with few studies involving only children and women. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of anemia in adult men and women urban dwellers.
Methods: Between October and November 2016, we carried-out a cross-sectional study in Yaounde-Cameroon. Adults of both sexes, aged ≥18 years were screened for anemia according to the WHO criteria. The main outcome was the presence and severity of anemia according to sex.
Results: A total of 236 participants were screened, of whom 137 (58.1%) were males. Their mean age was 45.4±10.6 years. The mean Hb was 12.7±1.5 g/L. Anemia was seen in 93 (39.3%) participants—38 (27.7%) males, and 55 (55.6%) females. The prevalence of anemia was significantly higher in women ≤40 years of age. Anemia was mild in 72 (30.5%), moderate in 19 (8.1%), and severe in 2 (0.8%) participants. Female sex was associated with a high odds of having anemia (OR: 3.3; P<0.001), while tobacco use (OR: 0.3; P=0.018) and high atherogenicity index (OR: 0.5; P=0.054) appeared to be protective against anemia. After adjusting for sex, tobacco use was not associated with a lower odds of anemia (aOR: 0.5; P=0.094).
Conclusions: The prevalence of anemia was high in both urban dwelling men and women with a high social standard, with the greatest burden in young women.
Methods: Between October and November 2016, we carried-out a cross-sectional study in Yaounde-Cameroon. Adults of both sexes, aged ≥18 years were screened for anemia according to the WHO criteria. The main outcome was the presence and severity of anemia according to sex.
Results: A total of 236 participants were screened, of whom 137 (58.1%) were males. Their mean age was 45.4±10.6 years. The mean Hb was 12.7±1.5 g/L. Anemia was seen in 93 (39.3%) participants—38 (27.7%) males, and 55 (55.6%) females. The prevalence of anemia was significantly higher in women ≤40 years of age. Anemia was mild in 72 (30.5%), moderate in 19 (8.1%), and severe in 2 (0.8%) participants. Female sex was associated with a high odds of having anemia (OR: 3.3; P<0.001), while tobacco use (OR: 0.3; P=0.018) and high atherogenicity index (OR: 0.5; P=0.054) appeared to be protective against anemia. After adjusting for sex, tobacco use was not associated with a lower odds of anemia (aOR: 0.5; P=0.094).
Conclusions: The prevalence of anemia was high in both urban dwelling men and women with a high social standard, with the greatest burden in young women.
