Abstract

Anaemia remains a major public health problem worldwide and malaria represents one of its main causes in malaria endemic areas. To determine the prevalence of anaemia and its associated factors after a campaign of seasonal malaria chemoprevention combined or not with azithromycin a secondary analysis was conducted on data from a cross-sectional survey at the end of the 2014 seasonal malaria chemoprevention campaign in the health district of Houndé, Burkina Faso. A complete clinical examination with measurements of anthropometric parameters, haemoglobin level was achieved alongside with malaria blood films. Malaria rapid diagnosis test was used in case of fever. Anaemia was defined as a haemoglobin level < 11 g/dl. A descriptive analysis followed by logistic regression was performed. The prevalence of anaemia was 45.71% globally. The addition of azithromycin to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine, older age groups and weight gain reduced the risk of anaemia by 26, 52 and 19%, respectively. A history of one episode or more of malaria and being male increased this risk by 30 and 35%, respectively. At the end of the campaign, the prevalence of anaemia remains relatively high among recipients. However, the addition of azithromycin to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine plus amodiaquine reduces the risk of anaemia.

Key words: Anaemia, children, cross-sectional study, malaria, seasonal malaria chemoprevention, epidemiology.