Maternal Risk Factors Associated with Anaemia Among Children in Nigeria: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Anemia in children under five remains a significant public health concern in Nigeria. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal, socioeconomic, and child-related factors and anemia prevalence in this population. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2018 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), encompassing 10,431 children under five. Multivariate logistic regression was employed to assess the relationship between childhood anemia and maternal education, age, body mass index (BMI), employment status, household wealth, child age, gender, stunting, wasting, and residence type. Collinearity diagnostics were performed prior to model construction. Results: Higher maternal education (above secondary school) was significantly associated with lower odds of childhood anemia (OR = 0.55, p < 0.001). Increased maternal BMI (overweight and obese) also significantly reduced the odds of anemia compared to underweight (p < 0.001). Children from wealthier households exhibited lower anemia prevalence (p < 0.001). Female children had lower odds of anemia compared to males (p < 0.05). Child age 2-5 years was associated with significantly reduced odds of anemia compared to 6 months-1 year (p < 0.001). Stunting significantly increased the odds of anemia (p < 0.001). Maternal age was not significantly associated with anemia after adjusting for child age and gender. Residence type and child wasting were not significantly associated with anemia. No significant collinearity was detected among the independent variables. Conclusion: Maternal Maternal education, BMI, household wealth, child age, gender, and stunting are significant determinants of anemia in Nigerian children under five. Interventions targeting these factors, particularly focusing on improving maternal education and nutrition, and addressing socioeconomic disparities, are crucial for reducing childhood anemia in Nigeria