Evaluation of the prevalence of anemia among students benefiting from the WFP feeding program (2015- 2017) in Nara and Kolokani in Mali

Abstract

Malnutrition in children under the age of five can contribute to the reduction of intellectual capacity; it was also accepted that food insecurity, the cause of malnutrition, one of the indicators of which is anemia, is a cause of absenteeism and reduced learning capacity among school-aged children. Mali's policy for the promotion of school canteens is based on WFP's commitment to cover the food needs of the canteens of the basic schools of the circles of Nara and Kolokani. The objective of this research was to assess the level of anemia prevalence among students in schools receiving WFP support, in order to have basic indicators allowing this organization to assess the impact of its interventions. On the basis of the list and the number of schools, a sample of 27 schools was drawn at random, then, in proportion to the number of each school, 20 to 30 pupils were selected; a total of 560 students. The hemoglobin level in each student was determined on site with the portable Hemoglobinometer "HemoCue". A total of 170 pupils out of the 560 enrolled in the two circles presented anemia with an overall prevalence of 35.36% (29.1% in Kolokani and 32.1% in Nara). Urgent preventive and corrective interventions have been formulated for the school administration and its partners.