Community Based Case Control Study on Effect of Nutrition Education Intervention on Predictors and Prevalence of Anaemia among Children aged 6 to 59 months in Pastoralist and Agro-Pastoralist community of Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia

Background: Anaemia is one of the major public health problems. It affects over 1.6 billion individuals of all age groups globally. Ethiopia is one of the seriously affected countries. Hence, the aim of this study is to assess the effect of nutrition education intervention (NEI) on anaemia prevalence and its predictors of preschool children in Pastoralist and Agro-pastoralist community of Somali Region, Eastern Ethiopia. Methods: A group randomized controlled trial was conducted among 404 paired children 6–59 months to mothers/caregivers in two phases. A face-to-face interview for mothers/caregivers using a semi structured questionnaire and haemoglobin measurement of the children was done. The some procedure were repeated after eight months of NEI. Blood haemoglobin (Hb) level of the children were measured using Hemocue 301. SPSS version 20 was used, a chi-square test for categorical and t-test (independent and repeated paired) for continuous variables were performed. Results: the overall anaemia prevalence was decreased from 72% at baseline and 51% at post intervention. The majority of this change had occurred in intervention group (79.3–44.8%). The mean Hb level score difference of the difference (DOD) were significantly improved (-1.163, p < 0.001) after NEI. While, intervention group showed significantly higher increment of Hb level (9.4 g/dl – 10.6 g/dl, p < 0.001). Conclusion: The NEI has been observed effective and significantly improved the mean haemoglobin level and the anaemia prevalence in intervention group. Therefore, behaviour change communication, using religious leaders and other potential peoples advocating the use of locally available, accessible and affordable nutritious foods with proper infant and young child feeding and basic health services are highly effective to tackle the children’s anaemia status.