Anaemia among school‐going adolescents in Burkina Faso: Prevalence and associated factors

Abstract Adolescence, a stage of growth between 10 and 19 years, is a transitional period of intense cognitive, emotional and physical development. Though iron deficiency is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among this age group, nutritional interventions targeting adolescents are rare. T...

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Main Authors: Ourohiré Millogo, Ilana R. Cliffer, Yllassa Barry, Idrissa Kouanda, Guillaume Compaore, Dongqing Wang, Ali Sie, Wafaie Fawzi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-07-01
Series:Maternal and Child Nutrition
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13518
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author Ourohiré Millogo
Ilana R. Cliffer
Yllassa Barry
Idrissa Kouanda
Guillaume Compaore
Dongqing Wang
Ali Sie
Wafaie Fawzi
author_facet Ourohiré Millogo
Ilana R. Cliffer
Yllassa Barry
Idrissa Kouanda
Guillaume Compaore
Dongqing Wang
Ali Sie
Wafaie Fawzi
author_sort Ourohiré Millogo
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Adolescence, a stage of growth between 10 and 19 years, is a transitional period of intense cognitive, emotional and physical development. Though iron deficiency is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among this age group, nutritional interventions targeting adolescents are rare. To inform policy and practice aimed at adolescent health, we established the burden of anaemia among school‐going adolescents in Center West Burkina Faso and investigated the potential explanatory factors. A cross‐sectional survey was conducted between January and March 2021. Blood samples, socio‐demographic, socioeconomic, anthropometric, dietary and water, sanitation and hygiene data from 2947 students aged 10–18 years were collected. Anaemia was determined by the World Health Organization's sex‐ and age‐specific haemoglobin concentrations. χ2 tests and logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with anaemia. The prevalence of anaemia among adolescents in the sample was 36.2%, including 24.2% mild, 11.6% moderate and 0.4% severe anaemia. Compared to males, females were 19% less likely to have mild anaemia (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 0.81; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.689, 0.955) but 42% more likely to be moderately or severely anaemic (aOR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.102, 1.831). Among iron‐rich foods, tamarind (aOR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.610, 0.929) and pumpkin leaves (aOR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.605, 0.974) were associated with lower odds of anaemia. Several water, sanitation and hygiene factors were associated with higher haemoglobin, including handwashing after toilet use (β = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.031, 0.966) and tooth brushing twice daily (β = 0.19; 95% CI: 0.030, 0.354). Anaemia among adolescents in Burkina Faso should be addressed with interventions targeting diet, sanitation and hygiene.
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spelling doaj-art-456438c30fe24fdea4dc08085c6be5342025-08-20T03:29:57ZengWileyMaternal and Child Nutrition1740-86951740-87092025-07-0121S1n/an/a10.1111/mcn.13518Anaemia among school‐going adolescents in Burkina Faso: Prevalence and associated factorsOurohiré Millogo0Ilana R. Cliffer1Yllassa Barry2Idrissa Kouanda3Guillaume Compaore4Dongqing Wang5Ali Sie6Wafaie Fawzi7Nouna Health Research Center (CRSN) Nouna Burkina FasoDepartment of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Harvard University Boston Massachusetts USANouna Health Research Center (CRSN) Nouna Burkina FasoNouna Health Research Center (CRSN) Nouna Burkina FasoNouna Health Research Center (CRSN) Nouna Burkina FasoDepartment of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Harvard University Boston Massachusetts USANouna Health Research Center (CRSN) Nouna Burkina FasoDepartment of Global Health and Population, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health Harvard University Boston Massachusetts USAAbstract Adolescence, a stage of growth between 10 and 19 years, is a transitional period of intense cognitive, emotional and physical development. Though iron deficiency is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality among this age group, nutritional interventions targeting adolescents are rare. To inform policy and practice aimed at adolescent health, we established the burden of anaemia among school‐going adolescents in Center West Burkina Faso and investigated the potential explanatory factors. A cross‐sectional survey was conducted between January and March 2021. Blood samples, socio‐demographic, socioeconomic, anthropometric, dietary and water, sanitation and hygiene data from 2947 students aged 10–18 years were collected. Anaemia was determined by the World Health Organization's sex‐ and age‐specific haemoglobin concentrations. χ2 tests and logistic regressions were used to identify factors associated with anaemia. The prevalence of anaemia among adolescents in the sample was 36.2%, including 24.2% mild, 11.6% moderate and 0.4% severe anaemia. Compared to males, females were 19% less likely to have mild anaemia (adjusted Odds Ratio [aOR] = 0.81; 95% confidence intervals [CI]: 0.689, 0.955) but 42% more likely to be moderately or severely anaemic (aOR = 1.42; 95% CI: 1.102, 1.831). Among iron‐rich foods, tamarind (aOR = 0.75; 95% CI: 0.610, 0.929) and pumpkin leaves (aOR = 0.77; 95% CI: 0.605, 0.974) were associated with lower odds of anaemia. Several water, sanitation and hygiene factors were associated with higher haemoglobin, including handwashing after toilet use (β = 0.50; 95% CI: 0.031, 0.966) and tooth brushing twice daily (β = 0.19; 95% CI: 0.030, 0.354). Anaemia among adolescents in Burkina Faso should be addressed with interventions targeting diet, sanitation and hygiene.https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13518adolescentsanaemiaBurkina Fasonutrition
spellingShingle Ourohiré Millogo
Ilana R. Cliffer
Yllassa Barry
Idrissa Kouanda
Guillaume Compaore
Dongqing Wang
Ali Sie
Wafaie Fawzi
Anaemia among school‐going adolescents in Burkina Faso: Prevalence and associated factors
Maternal and Child Nutrition
adolescents
anaemia
Burkina Faso
nutrition
title Anaemia among school‐going adolescents in Burkina Faso: Prevalence and associated factors
title_full Anaemia among school‐going adolescents in Burkina Faso: Prevalence and associated factors
title_fullStr Anaemia among school‐going adolescents in Burkina Faso: Prevalence and associated factors
title_full_unstemmed Anaemia among school‐going adolescents in Burkina Faso: Prevalence and associated factors
title_short Anaemia among school‐going adolescents in Burkina Faso: Prevalence and associated factors
title_sort anaemia among school going adolescents in burkina faso prevalence and associated factors
topic adolescents
anaemia
Burkina Faso
nutrition
url https://doi.org/10.1111/mcn.13518
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