Frequency of Anaemia in Children Screened for it using Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness (IMNCI) strategy at the paediatric unit, Chandak Medical College, Larkana

Submission: 10 September 2025 | Acceptance: 28 October 2025 | Publication: 10 November 2025

Dr. Asma, Dr. Prof Shanti Lal, Dr. Farhana Shahnawaz Sethar, Dr. Bisharat Ali, Dr. Farooq Illahi Indhar, Dr. Fatima

Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University Larkana

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the frequency of anaemia in children screened through the Integrated Management of Neonatal and Childhood Illness criteria and to assess its relationship with demographic and clinical characteristics.

METHODOLOGY: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at the Paediatric Unit of SMBBU Larkana, enrolling 188 children aged five years or younger with clinical features suggestive of anaemia. Screening was performed using the IMNCI strategy, and anaemia was confirmed by haemoglobin testing. Children with known haematological disorders or malnutrition were excluded. Data were analysed using SPSS with chi square testing at a significance level of 0.05.

RESULTS: The children had a mean age of 26.51 months, and 44.1% were male. Anaemia was present in 41% of participants. Age (p = 0.802) and gender (p = 0.371) showed no significant association with anaemia. Other demographic variables were also non-significant, while household income was the only factor significantly associated with anaemia (p = 0.049).

CONCLUSION: The study found that anaemia was common among children screened through the IMNCI strategy, with lower household income emerging as the only factor significantly associated with anaemia. Other demographic and clinical variables showed no meaningful relationships. These findings indicate that socioeconomic conditions play a central role in childhood anaemia and should be prioritized in future public health interventions.

KEYWORDS: Anaemia, Integrated Management of Childhood Illness, Neonatal and Childhood Illness, Paediatric Screening.