Anaemia, iron status and vitamin A deficiency among adolescent refugees in Kenya and Nepal.
Woodruff BA, Blanck HM, Slutsker L, Cookson ST, Larson MK, Duffield A, Bhatia R.
Maternal and Child Nutrition Branch, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. BWoodruff@cdc.gov
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 microg ml(-1)) and vitamin A deficiency (serum retinol <0.7 micromol l(-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.
PMID: 16480530 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]