Anemia
Severity and Determinants of Anemia Among Adolescent Girls in Africa: A Multicountry and Multilevel Analysis of 25 Countries
By Ejigu BA, Begashaw GB and Tiruneh FN.
Abstract
Background
Anemia remains a major public health concern in Africa, with substantial health and developmental consequences. Adolescents, particularly girls, are at increased risk due to rapid growth, menstruation, and inadequate dietary intake. Identifying the severity and determinants of anemia among adolescent girls in Africa is crucial for developing appropriate interventions, yet evidence remains scarce.
Objective
To assess the severity and determinants of anemia among adolescent girls in Africa using nationally representative data.
Methods
Data were obtained from the most recent Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) of 25 African countries, including 41,662 adolescent girls aged 15-19 years. The severity of anemia was determined using descriptive statistics based on proportions. Anemia severity was modeled as a four-level ordinal outcome (none, mild, moderate, and severe) using survey-weighted multilevel ordinal (proportional-odds) logistic regression with a random intercept at the cluster level. Chi-square tests assessed initial associations, and adjusted odds ratios (AOR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were reported from the final model.