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

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

Bradley A Woodruff ,
Heidi Michels Blanck ,
Laurence Slutsker ,
Susan T Cookson ,
Mary Kay Larson ,
Arabella Duffield  and
Rita Bhatia
Bradley A Woodruff*
Affiliation:
Maternal and Child Nutrition Branch, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway NE, Mailstop K-25, Atlanta, GA 30341, USA
Heidi Michels Blanck
Affiliation:
Chronic Disease Nutrition Branch, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
Laurence Slutsker
Affiliation:
Malaria Branch, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
Susan T Cookson
Affiliation:
State and Local Public Health Systems Branch, National Center for Health Marketing, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
Mary Kay Larson
Affiliation:
Country Program Support Branch, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA
Arabella Duffield
Affiliation:
Save the Children UK, London, UK
Rita Bhatia
Affiliation:
World Food Programme Regional Bureau for Asia, Bangkok, Thailand
*
*Corresponding author: Email BWoodruff@cdc.gov
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Abstract

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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 μmoll−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.

Keywords

AdolescentsDietary ironAnaemiaVitamin A deficiencyMicronutrientsRefugees
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 9 , Issue 1 , February 2006 , pp. 26 - 34
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2006

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