Anaemia prevalence in children newly registered at UNRWA schools: a cross-sectional study.

OBJECTIVE: Children entering first grade at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) schools in West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria complete a comprehensive medical examination at UNRWA health centres (HCs) as a requirement for their acceptance. Our study aimed to assess anaemia prevalence and undernutrition indicators among new entrant school children during their preschool medical examination. SETTINGS: In 2017, we conducted a cross-sectional study in 59 UNRWA HCs, targeting children entering first grade at UNRWA schools in four of UNRWA's countries of operation (known as fields), namely Gaza, West Bank, Syria and Lebanon. PARTICIPANTS: 2419 completed the study. Boys and girls living inside or outside Palestine refugee camps were included. Verbal consent was obtained from their parents. PRIMARY AND SECONDARY OUTCOME MEASURES: Sociodemographic and anthropometric data on each child were collected. Underweight (weight-for-age z-score <-2 SD), stunting (height-for-age z-score <-2 SD), thinness (body mass index-for-age z-score <-2 SD) and obesity (body mass index-for-age z-score >+2 SD) were examined according to WHO growth indicators (5-10 years). RESULTS: 2419 students (1278 girls and 1141 boys) aged 6.1±0.4 years were examined. The prevalence of anaemia (haemoglobin (Hb) <11.5 g/L) was 25.0% (Gaza: 29.3%; West Bank: 22.0%; Syria: 30.0%; Lebanon: 18.3%). The mean Hb level was 12.0±0.9 g/L. The overall prevalence of stunting, thinness and underweight was 3.2%, 3.5% and 5.6%, respectively, with the highest levels found in Syria (4.3%, 6.3% and 10.1%, respectively). The highest prevalence of overweight was in Lebanon (8.6%), and the lowest was in Gaza (2.6%). Significant differences were found among fields with regard to undernutrition indicators (p=0.001). Also, children with anaemia had significantly higher prevalence of being underweight (5.2%) in comparison with those without anaemia (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of anaemia among the surveyed children increased to 25.0%, compared with the previous study conducted by UNRWA in 2005 (19.5%). Thus, it is recommended that Hb testing be included in the medical examination of new entrant school children attending UNRWA schools.

Contraceptive use by Palestine refugee mothers of young children attending UNRWA clinics: a cross-sectional follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: UNRWA introduced family planning services in 1994 as an integral part of its expanded maternal and child health-care programme. The main objective of UNRWA's family planning programme is to promote the health of mothers, children, and their families. The aim of this follow-up study was to assess contraceptive practices in the target population 5 years after the 2010 follow-up study and to identify future programme needs. METHODS: This cross-sectional survey was a done by trained nurses from June 1 to Dec 31, 2015. Participants were Palestinian refugee mothers who attended Well Baby Clinics at all UNRWA health centres with their youngest child (aged 2 months to 5 years). A sample size of 10 478 participants was calculated on the basis of contraceptive use in 2010, using Epi Info sample size calculation. Women were interviewed, and retrospective data from health records were used as supplementary data. We did a multiple logistic regression to test if maternal age and parity predicted contraceptive use. We used the χ2 test to analyse the relation between previous contraceptive use and birth interval, birth weight, and gestational age. All participants provided verbal informed consent. The study was approved by the ethical committee in the UNRWA Health Department. FINDINGS: Data were obtained from 9860 mothers (mean age 29·8 years [range 29·4-30·1]). 5849 (59%) women were using modern contraceptives at the time of the survey, 1745 (18%) were using traditional methods, and 2265 (23%) were not using any contraceptive method. The most common modern contraceptive was an intrauterine device (2186 [37%] women), and UNRWA was the main provider for 4827 (83%) women using modern contraceptives. The most common reasons for not using contraceptives were a wish to have a child (873 [22%] women), pregnancy (747 [19%]), and a husband's opposition (775 [20%]). Using women with less than three pregnancies as the reference category, use of contraceptives was most likely in women with three to six pregnancies (adjusted odds ratio 1·58, 95% 1·43-1·73; p<0·0001) and in women with more than six pregnancies (1·6, 1·28-1·99; p<0·0001). Women with at least one male child were more likely to use contraceptives than women with no male child (1·39, 1·24-1·56; p<0·0001). Maternal age over 35 years was not a significant predictor for modern contraceptive use. We found a statistically significant correlation between previous contraceptive use and birthweight [c2=23·88; p<0·0001)] but not with gestational age. INTERPRETATION: It is encouraging that mothers seeking modern contraceptives rely on UNRWA to provide family planning services. We found that mothers with higher parity are more likely to use modern contraceptives that comply with UNRWA recommendations. As expected, modern contraceptives lead to better birth spacing. However, mothers above 35 years of age are not more likely to use modern contraceptives, and these mothers might be at higher risk for negative maternal and infant health outcomes. UNRWA family planning services could focus more on counselling this group of mothers. FUNDING: None.