Public Health and Preventive Medicine Vol. 1, No. 1, 2015, pp. 28-32 http://www.publicscienceframework.org/journal/phpm * Corresponding author E-mail address: kisianganiisaac@yahoo.com (I. Kisiangani) Prevalence of Anaemia and Associated Factors Among Preschool Children (6-59 Months) in Western Province, Kenya Isaac Kisiangani 1, * , Charles Mbakaya 2 , Anzelimo Makokha 1 1 Institute of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Jomo Kenyatta University of agriculture and Technology, Nairobi, Kenya 2 Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya Abstract Background: Anaemia is the most prevalent nutritional deficiency globally and of major public health concern in preschool children and pregnant women in developing world. In Kenya current anaemia rates are about 69 % among preschool aged children. Anaemia has adverse health consequences in the children. Objectives: To evaluated the prevalence, severity and risk factors of anaemia in preschool children in an area with intense malaria transmission. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Clusters in an area with intense malaria transmission in western Kenya. Subjects: A total of 125 preschoolers were enrolled aged between 6-59 months. Results: The prevalence of anaemia (Hb<11.0 g/dl) was 25%. It was further divided into moderate (14.2%) and mild (10.8%).Higher risk of presenting anaemia was documented for boys, lower household socioeconomic status, malaria infection and anthropometric deficits. Conclusion: The findings show occurrence of anaemia among preschool children. In addition to malaria, low socioeconomic status, anthropometric deficits, sex are important contributors to the pathogenesis of anaemia in Western province. Improving the case management of malaria is likely to reduce the burden of anaemia. Also to implement effective public health interventions to prevent anaemia in this group, an integrated approach that addresses poverty, nutrition and malaria infection is a must. Keywords Anaemia, Preschool Children, Malaria, Nutritional Status Received: March 16, 2015 / Accepted: April 1, 2015 / Published online: April 2, 2015 @ 2015 The Authors. Published by American Institute of Science. This Open Access article is under the CC BY-NC license. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/ 1. Introduction Anaemia is considered the most prevalent nutritional deficiency globally [1] . In preschool children, anaemia has adverse negative health consequences that include altered cognitive development, poor school performance, impaired physical growth, and poor immunity [2,3]. Approximately 1.6 billion people are anaemic worldwide, and approximately two-thirds of preschool children in Africa and Southeast Asia are anaemic [4] . In Kenya, previous studies have found approximately 66% of preschool children were anaemic [5] . Anaemia is preventable, yet it remains the most widespread nutritional deficiency in the world. Countries, which realized significant progresses in the control of the problem have identified contextual risk factors and implement context relevant programs. In sub-Saharan African, conditions which increase the risk for anaemia in children are complex and multidimensional. A first step for evidence-based interventions and policies towards the control and elimination of iron deficiency anaemia is a better understanding of these risk factors. The complex aetiology of anaemia involves the interaction between multiple factors including nutritional deficiencies, genetic red blood cell disorders, and infectious diseases, particularly malaria and hookworm infections.