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Published in: BMC Pediatrics 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Anemia | Research article

Anemia in disadvantaged children aged under five years; quality of care in primary practice

Authors: Casey Mitchinson, Natalie Strobel, Daniel McAullay, Kimberley McAuley, Ross Bailie, Karen M. Edmond

Published in: BMC Pediatrics | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Background

Anemia rates are over 60% in disadvantaged children yet there is little information about the quality of anemia care for disadvantaged children.

Methods

Our primary objective was to assess the burden and quality of anemia care for disadvantaged children and to determine how this varied by age and geographic location. We implemented a cross-sectional study using clinical audit data from 2287 Indigenous children aged 6–59 months attending 109 primary health care centers between 2012 and 2014. Data were analysed using multivariable regression models.

Results

Children aged 6–11 months (164, 41.9%) were less likely to receive anemia care than children aged 12–59 months (963, 56.5%) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.48, CI 0.35, 0.65). Proportion of children receiving anemia care ranged from 10.2% (92) (advice about ‘food security’) to 72.8% (728) (nutrition advice). 70.2% of children had a hemoglobin measurement in the last 12 months. Non-remote area families (115, 38.2) were less likely to receive anemia care compared to remote families (1012, 56.4%) (aOR 0.34, CI 0.15, 0.74). 57% (111) aged 6–11 months were diagnosed with anemia compared to 42.8% (163) aged 12–23 months and 22.4% (201) aged 24–59 months. 49% (48.5%, 219) of children with anemia received follow up.

Conclusions

The burden of anemia and quality of care for disadvantaged Indigenous children was concerning across all remote and urban locations assessed in this study. Improved services are needed for children aged 6–11 months, who are particularly at risk.
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Metadata
Title
Anemia in disadvantaged children aged under five years; quality of care in primary practice
Authors
Casey Mitchinson
Natalie Strobel
Daniel McAullay
Kimberley McAuley
Ross Bailie
Karen M. Edmond
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Keywords
Anemia
Care
Published in
BMC Pediatrics / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2431
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12887-019-1543-2

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