Determinants of anemia in children aged 6-59 months in Niger in 2022.

Context: The prevalence of anemia among children aged 6 to 59 months in 2020 in Niger was 63.3%, well above the critical threshold of 40% defined by the World Health Organization. The aim of the study wasto identify risk factors for anemia in children aged 6-59 months in Niger in 2022. Methods: This was a descriptive and analytical cross-sectional study. Data collected from August 20 to September 27, 2022 on children aged 6 to 59 months whose hemoglobin levels were measured constituted the study population. Risk factors for the occurrence of anemia were identified by binary logistic regression. A p-value of less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: A total of 3969 children aged 6-59 months were included in the study. The prevalence of global anemia was estimated at 57%. After logistic regression, the risk factors for the occurrence of anemia were: age group 6-23 months (OR: 2.38; 95% CI: 2.05 - 2.72), fever in the 14 days preceding the survey (OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.06 -1. 92), stunting (OR: 1.52; 95% CI: 1.10-2.11) and weaning from breastfeeding before 23 months (OR: 2.19; 95% CI: 1.56-3.06); while the absence of underweight with an OR: 0.68 ˂1 protected children from anemia. Conclusion: This work identified the factors that influenced the occurrence of anemia in children aged 6-59 months. Prevention involves interventions on identified factors that are modifiable.