PREVALENCE OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA AMONG CHILDREN IN THE MUNICIPALITY OF DIBËR, NORTH MACEDONIA

Ferizat Dika - Haxhirexha, Sevdije Koxha, Ledia Qatipi, Aulona Haxhirexha, Aferdita Ademi

Abstract

Today, anemia is considered one of the most common blood disorders. It continuing to represent a global health problem, affecting about a third of the worldwide population, especially infants and children. Some of the leading causes of anemia among children include malnutrition and lack of iron in the bloodstream. In technical terms, anemia consists of low hemoglobin or hematocrit. This study inquires some epidemiological features of children treated due to anemia of varying degrees in the municipality of Debar, in North Macedonia. The population of this study consists of a sample of 234 children from the municipality of Diber regularly checked at the local clinical practice "Alba Med." The parameters for the evaluation of anemia comprise the level of hemoglobin, iron, MCV, and MCVC.Of 234 children involved in this study, 23 or 9.82 % resulted in anemia. Seventeen children registered low levels of MCH, while 18 of them registered low levels of MCHC. Moreover, in this study, 27 children resulted in low ferritin levels, a slightly higher number than those with anemia.

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