Estudio comparativo de la prevalencia de anemia y factores asociados en niños de 6 a 12 años en los sectores urbano-marginales de Guayaquil, de mayo de 2022 a marzo de 2023.

Abstract

Introduction: Anemia is a public health problem at the national level, according to the WHO, anemia is classified as a moderate public health problem, in ENSANUT 2018, it indicates that in Ecuador 7 out of 10 children under 1 year old suffer iron deficiency anemia. Objective: To compare the prevalence of anemia among marginal urban sectors of Guayaquil and its relationship with associated factors in children from 6 to 12 years of age. May 2022 to March 2023. Materials and methods: This study is descriptive, comparative, and cross-sectional because the data was collected in a single time. Validated instruments and tools were used to assess anthropometric and biochemical data, eating habits and the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices on iron deficiency anemia. Microsoft Excel SSPS 20 version was used for statistical analysis. Results: The prevalence of severe anemia was found, mostly in the northeast sector with 28.51%; followed by the northern sector with 17.57% and in the southwest with 17.31%; children's; Conclusions: The marginal area with the highest level of severe hemoglobin is the northeast, reaching 28.51%, with a high risk of continuing to increase because only the 3.17% have a healthy diet, another factor that follows is low levels of knowledge reaching 49.21%, and a risky eating practice of 20.63% of the population.