Socioeconomic and Demographic Inequalities in Childhood Anaemia Prevalence in Nigeria, 2015–2021: A Secondary Analysis of WHO HEAT Estimates
Tolutope Adebimpe Oso, Oluwatobi Babajide Ayelaagbe, Olalekan John Okesanya, Khalifat Boluwatife Obadeyi, Uthman Okikiola Adebayo, Kabiru Olalekan Tajudeen, Emery Manirambona, Don Eliseo Lucero-PrisnoBackground
Childhood anaemia remains a major and inequitable public health challenge in Nigeria.
Methods
This cross-sectional study assessed anaemia among children aged 6–59 months using publicly available estimates from nationally representative surveys (2015, 2018, and 2021) accessed through the World Health Organization Health Equity Assessment Toolkit. Inequalities by wealth, maternal education, residence, sex, and region were assessed using Difference, Ratio, Population Attributable Risk, and Population Attributable Fraction.
Results
Anaemia remained high, particularly among the poorest households (80.9% in 2015; 80.0% in 2021) and children of mothers with no/low education (77.9%; 76.5%). In 2021, prevalence was higher in rural than urban areas (71.7% vs. 61.2%) and varied regionally (North West: 75.0%; South West: 57.8%), while sex differences were minimal.
Conclusions
Persistent socioeconomic, educational, residential, and regional inequalities in childhood anaemia highlight the need for targeted interventions prioritising disadvantaged populations.