Objective: To describe the distribution of hemoglobin and prevalence of anemia in Nepali children living in the Terai region by potential risk factors for deficiency.
Design: This was a cross-sectional, community-based study of baseline characteristics of children enrolled in a randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial between January and March 2002. Participants were weighed and measured and had their blood drawn. Their mothers contributed demographic, morbidity, and feeding data.
Subjects: There were 569 4- to 17-month-old children. Statistical models were based on 490 children.
Results: Anemia was prevalent: 58% of the children had a hemoglobin