Factors associated with anaemia among preschool- age children in underprivileged neighbourhoods in Antananarivo, Madagascar

BACKGROUND: Anaemia occurs in children when the haemoglobin level in the blood is less than the normal (11 g/dL), the consequence is the decrease of oxygen quantity in the tissues. It is a prevalent public health problem in many low-income countries, including Madagascar, and data on risk factors are lacking. We used existing data collected within the pathophysiology of environmental enteric dysfunction (EED) in Madagascar and the Central African Republic project (AFRIBIOTA project) conducted in underprivileged neighbourhoods of Antananarivo to investigate the factors associated with anaemia in children 24 to 59 months of age. METHODS: Children included in the AFRIBIOTA project in Antananarivo for whom data on haemoglobin and ferritin concentrations were available were included in the study. Logistic regression modelling was performed to identify factors associated with anaemia. RESULTS: Of the 414 children included in this data analysis, 24.4% were found to suffer from anaemia. We found that older children (adjusted OR: 0.95; 95% CI: 0.93–0.98) were less likely to have anaemia. Those with iron deficiency (adjusted OR: 6.1; 95% CI: 3.4–11.1) and those with a high level of faecal calprotectin (adjusted OR: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.4–4.4) were more likely to have anaemia than controls. CONCLUSIONS: To reduce anaemia in the children in this underprivileged area, more emphasis should be given to national strategies that improve children’s dietary quality and micronutrient intake. Furthermore, existing measures should be broadened to include measures to reduce infectious disease burden. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-022-13716-6.