Prevalence and related physical factors of anemia among primary and high school students in Guangdong province

  Objective  To explore the level and related physical factors of blood hemoglobin among primary and high school students in Guangdong province and to provide evidences for improving physique of the students.

  Methods  Data on 4 783 primary and high school students aged 7, 9, 12 and 14 years were extracted from the dataset of National Student Physique and Health Research conducted in Guangdong province in 2014. Blood hemoglobin concentration was determined with modified azide methemoglobin method. Factors related to hemoglobin level were analyzed with stepwise regression. Historical data on the prevalence of anemia among primary and high school students in Guangdong province were also collected.

  Results  For primary and middle school students in Guangdong, the mean concentration of blood hemoglobin was 134.28 ± 11.931 g/L for all the students (133.33 ± 12.504 and 132.21 ± 11.013 g/L for the boys and girls; 134.89 ± 11.931 and 133.66 ± 12.504 g/L for the urban and rural students). The prevalence rate of anemia among the students was 10.6% (9.8% and 11.5% among the boys and girls; 8.7% and 12.6% among the urban and rural students). During the recent 20 years, the prevalence rate of anemia among primary and high school students in the province fluctuated every 5 years, with a variation of 5% around the mean, and the prevalence rate in 2014 was higher than that in 2011. The results of stepwise regression analysis revealed that vital capacity, sebum thickness of upper arm, and grip strength were positively correlated to hemoglobin concentration; while pulse, sebum thickness of scapular region, hip circumference, the numbers of sit-ups or pull-ups, the time of 50 meters running, and age were reversely accociated with hemoglobin concentration.

  Conclusion  The prevalence rate of anemia was at a low level among primary and high school students in Guangdong province but showed an upward trend, suggesting relevant monitoring is needed; physical factors and development indexes are associated with blood hemoglobin level and nutrition intervention needs to be carried out for increasing the students′ hemoglobin level.