Red Blood Cell Parameters among Malnourished Children Under-Five Years Attending Al-Sadaqa Teaching Hospital, Aden-Yemen

Malnutrition means deficiencies or inadequate nutrients as well as excesses or imbalances of nutrients intake by the individuals. This study was aimed to determine the abnormal Red blood cell parameters among malnourished children underـfive years attending AL-Sadaqa teaching hospital‚ Aden governorate and to determine the associated factors related to malnutrition as well as abnormal parameters among those children. A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted on 101 malnourished children under 5years. The blood samples were collected from all studied group and the hematological parameters were measured by using automated hematological analyzer from (Sysmex) Company and the data was analyzed by SPSS. Out of 101 malnourished children, majority were females 55(54.5%).The highest percentage was 51.5% among MAM while the SAM and 48.5%. The means of RBCs, HCT, MCV and MCHC were slightly decreased with increasing of RDW among SAM children than MAM. Significant associations were found between children with age group >20 and their residence and acute malnutrition (p=0.049 and p=0.015). About 81.40% of malnourished children had anemia with only 4% of children had severe anemia. The percentages of low RBCs, HCT, MCV, MCH and MCHC were 48%, 92.2%, 88.2%, 93.1% and 63.7%, respectively, while 77.2% of children had high RDW. Significant associations between residence, illustrate and primary school education of both fathers and Mothers and anemia (p=0.043, 0.005, 0.003, 0.02 and 0.005), respectively. It can be concluded that the prevalence of SAM and anemia among children under-five years in Aden, Yemen were high. The residence increasing the risk of SAM, anemia and decreasing of most RBC parameters among children. The severity of acute malnutrition and RDW are increased by increasing the age of children.  The low education levels of both father and mothers may be another factor that contributing in decreasing the levels of most RBC parameters.