Is Infant/Toddler Anemia a Problem across Rural China? A Mixed-Methods Analysis

Lei Wang, Yonglei Sun, Buyao Liu, Lijuan Zheng, Mengjie Li, Yu Bai, Annie Osborn, Maggie Lee and Scott Rozelle
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Lei Wang: International Business School, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710069, Shaanxi, China
Yonglei Sun: Center for Experimental Economics of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710069, Shaanxi, China
Buyao Liu: Center for Experimental Economics of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710069, Shaanxi, China
Lijuan Zheng: Center for Experimental Economics of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710069, Shaanxi, China
Mengjie Li: International Business School, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710069, Shaanxi, China
Yu Bai: Center for Experimental Economics of Education, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an 710069, Shaanxi, China
Annie Osborn: Rural Education Action Project, Stanford University, Stanford 94305, CA, USA
Maggie Lee: Rural Education Action Project, Stanford University, Stanford 94305, CA, USA

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-23

Abstract: In the past, iron-deficiency anemia in children has had a widespread presence in rural China. Given the recent economic growth in China, it is unclear if anemia among infants/toddlers remains a problem. The objective of this study is to measure the anemia rate in rural Chinese infants/toddlers across four major subpopulations and attempt to discover the sources of anemia. We use a mixed-methods approach combining quantitative data on 2909 rural Chinese infants/toddlers and their families with qualitative interviews with 84 caregivers of infants aged 6 to 30 months. Quantitative analysis indicates that the overall prevalence of anemia (43%) within sampled infants/toddlers was high, especially in comparison to the low rates of stunting (2–5%), being underweight (2%), and wasting (2–4%). These findings suggest that in rural China, anemia stems from the poor quality of the diets of infants/toddlers, rather than insufficient quantities of food being consumed. Qualitative analysis illustrates the factors that are contributing to anemia. Caregivers do not understand the causes of this condition, the symptoms that would lead one to recognize this condition, or the steps needed to treat their child with this condition. The findings offer a comprehensive understanding of the limited awareness of anemia among rural Chinese caregivers.

Keywords: infants/toddlers; anemia; rural China; mixed-methods (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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