PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS FOR ANEMIA AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS OF ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THAI NGUYEN PROVINCE, VIETNAM MISS HOA THI HONG HANH A THESIS FOR DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY 2018 PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS FOR ANEMIA AMONG FEMALE STUDENTS OF ETHNIC MINORITIES IN THAI NGUYEN PROVINCE, VIETNAM MISS HOA THI HONG HANH A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE GRADUATED SCHOOL KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY 2018 THESIS APPROVAL KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY FOR MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MEDICAL SCIENCE Thesis title: Prevalence and risk factors for anemia among female students of ethnic minorities in Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam. Author: Miss Hoa Thi Hong Hanh Thesis Examination committee Prof. Sastri Saowakhontha Chairperson Assoc. Kanokwan Sanchaisuriya Member Assist.
Pattara Sanchaisuriya Member Prof. Supan Fucharoen Member Assoc. Goonnapa Fucharoen Member Prof. Arunee Jetsrisuparp Member Thesis Advisers ………………………………………………….
Co-Advisor (Assist. Surasukdi Wongratanacheewin) (Assoc. Patcharee Jearanaikoon) Dean, Graduated School Dean, Faculty of Associated medical Science Copyright of Khon Kaen University i Hoa Thi Hong Hanh.ภัทระ แสนไชยสุรยิ า อาจารย ์ทีปรึ บทคัดย่อ ภ า ว ะ เ ลื อ ด จ า ง เ ป็ น ห นึ่ ง ใ น ปั ญ ห า สุ ข ภ า พ ข อ ง ช น ก ลุ่ ม น้ อ ย ป ร ะ เ ท ศ เ วี ย ด น า ม เ ป็ น ป ร ะ เ ท ศ ที่ มี ช น ก ลุ่ ม น้ อ ย ม า ก ถึ ง ช น เ ผ่ 5 4 า ก า ร ศึ ก ษ า ค ร ั้ ง นี ้ มีวต ่ ั ถุประสงค ์เพือประเมิ ่ นความชุกและหาปัจจัยเสียงของการเกิ ดภาวะเลือดจางในหญิงวัยเจริญพันธุ ์ชนกลุ่มน้อยในตอ นเหนื อของประเทศ อาสาสมัครเป็ นนักศึกษาแพทย ์กลุ่มชาติพน ่ าลังศึกษา ณ มหาวิทยาลัยไทเหงียน จานวน ั ธุ ์ต่างทีก ร า ย ท า ก า ร เ ก็ บ ข ้ อ มู ล พื ้ น 2 7 5 ฐ า น ทั่ ว ไ ป แ ล ะ ข ้ อ มู ล สุ ข ภ า พ โ ด ย ก า ร สั ม ภ า ษ ณ์ และเก็ บตัวอย่างเลือดหลังจากอาสาสมัครลงนามในแบบคายินยอม ในเบืองต ้ น ้ ตัวอย่างเลือดทุกรายถูกนาไปตรวจ complete blood count ณ โ ร ง พ ย า บ า ล ป ร ะ จ า จั ง ห วั ดไ ท เ ห งี ย น เ พื่ อ คั ด ตั ว อ ย่ า ง เ ลื อ ด ที่ ต ร ว จ พ บ ภ า ว ะ เ ลื อ ด จ า ง ไ ป ต ร ว จ วั ด ร ะ ดั บ เ ฟ อ ร ์ ไ ร ทิ นใ น ซี ร ั ม หลัง จากนั้ นจึง น าตัว อย่ า งเลือ ดที่เหลือ ทุ ก รายมาตรวจวินิ จ ฉั ย ธาลัส ซีเมีย ณ ประเทศไทย จากตัว อย่า ง 275 ราย พบความชุกภาวะเลือดจาง และ ภาวะเลือดจางจากการขาดธาตุเหล็ กเท่ากับ ร ้อยละ 31.5) ่ เมือวิเคราะห ์ความสัมพันธ ์ระหว่างธาลัสซีเมียกับชาติพน ั ธุ ์ พบว่า ชาติพน ่ ั ธุ ์ทีมีสด ั ส่วนของ 0 -thal และ -thal สูง คือ Tay ( 0-thal ร ้อยละ 12.5) และชาติพน ่ ั ธุ ์ทีพบสั ดส่วน Hb E สูงสุด คือ Muong (ร ้ อ ย ล ะ 2 6 ) ผลการศึกษามีประโยชน์สาหร ับกาหนดมาตรการควบคุมภาวะเลือดจางและป้ องกันการแพร่กระจายของโรคธาลัสซีเมีย ชนิ ดรุนแรงในภูมภ ิ าค ii Hoa Thi Hong Hanh .Prevalence and risk factors for anemia among female students of ethnic minorities in Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam. Master of Science Thesis in Medical Sciences, Graduate School, KhonKaen University.
Thesis Advisor: Assoc. Kanokwan Sanchaisuriya Co-Advisor: Asst. Dr Pattara Sanchaisuriya ABSTRACT Anemia is one of the health problems among ethnic minorities. In Vietnam, there are up to 54 ethnic minority groups residing in mountainous regions of the country.
This study aimed to determine the prevalence and risk factors for anemia among reproductive-age women of ethnic minorities in northern Vietnam. Participants included 275 medical female students of various minority groups studying at Thai Nguyen University. Information on socio-demographic and health status was collected by means of interview. After getting written informed-consent, blood samples were collected.
Complete blood count was measured initially at Thai Nguyen General Hospital. Blood samples of anemic individuals were determined further for serum ferritin. The remaining blood samples were then carried to Thailand for investigation of thalassemia (thal). Of the 275 women, the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) was 31.
The three forms of thalassemia, including α0-thal, β-thal, and Hb E were identified in 57/275 women (20. Amongst anemic women, 42.5% had thalassemia, and 17. Coincident of thal with ID was found in 7 women (8. Applying multiple logistic regression revealed that types of thalassemia that associated significantly with anemia were -thal [adjusted OR (AOR) = 66.7)] and -thal (AOR = 25.
Additional analysis of thalssemia in relation with ethnicities revealed the high proportions of α0-thal and -thal among the Tay (12.9% 0-thal and 6% -thal), Muong (10.2% -thal), and Nung (12. A highest proportion of Hb E (26%) was detected in the Muong group. The results are useful for implementing appropriate measures to control anemia and prevent the spread of severe thalassemia syndromes in this region. iii Goodness portion of the present thesis is dedicated to my parents, my thesis advisory committee and the entire teaching staff iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my deepest and sincere gratitude to my research advisor, Associate Professor Kanokwan Sanchaisuriya, and my co-advisor, Assistant Professor Pattara Sanchaisuriya for their kindness to provide me an opportunity to be their advisee and for their valuable motivation, suggestions, and guidance throughout my study.
I would like to express my greatest appreciation and sincere to Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen university and Khon Kaen University for giving me a scholarship for studying here. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the professors in the Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences for providing me valuable knowledge and experience during my study. I am also very grateful to Prof. Sastri Saowakhontha, Prof.
Supan Fucharoen, Assoc. Goonnapa Fucharoen, Prof. Arunee Jetsrisuparp for being as examination committee and for their valuable suggestions as well as encouragement. I would like to thank Dr.
Attawut Chaibunruang, Assist. Supawadee Yamsri, Dr. Hataichanok Sriwarakun, Miss Jutatip Jamnok, Mr Phongsathorn Wichian, Miss Benchawan Kingchaiyaphum, graduate students of Thalassemia Group and other graduate students. Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University as well as my family for the suggestion, support, consolation, helpful, cheerfulness and friendliness.
Finally, I deeply appreciate the financial support from the Centre for Research and Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories (CMDL), Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University. Hoa Thi Hong Hanh v TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT. ii LIST OF TABLES. vii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS.
viii CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION. Background and rationale. 3 CHAPER II LITERATURE REVIEW. 4 Part I: General consideration of anemia, ID and IDA.
5 Part II: Related research. Prevalence and risk factors for anemia in Vietnam. Prevalence of thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies in Vietnam. 11 CHAPTER III RESEARCH METHODOLOGY.
Data collection & tools. Scope and limitation of the study. 14 CHAPTER IV RESULTS. General characteristics of the study population.
Prevalence of anemia, IDA, and thalassemia among 275 women of ethnic minorities. Hematologic features among anemic and non-anemic women. Factors associated with anemia among 275 women of ethnic minorities. Distribution of thalassemia among different ethnic groups.
17 vi CHAPER V DISCUSSION. 26 CHAPER VI CONCLUSION. 30 APPENDIX A INFORMATION SHEET. 34 APPENDIX B QUESTIONNAIRE FORM.
39 APPENDIX C ETHICAL APPROVAL FORM. 44 APPENDIX D RESEACH PRESENTATION. 45 vii LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1 Classification of anemia by age and gender 4 Table 2 Causes of iron deficiency 6 Table 3 Prevalence of anemia in Vietnam 8 Table 4 Prevalence of the three clinically significant thalassemia in Vietnam 10 Table 5 Socio-demographic characteristics of the 275 participants 18 Table 6 Basic information on health status of the 275 participants 19 Table 7 Prevalence of anemia, IDA, and thalassemia among 275 women of 20 ethnic minorities Table 8 Prevalence of the three clinically significant thalassemia among 275 21 reproductive-age women of ethnic minorities Table 9 Proportions of factors explaining anemia among 87 women 22 Table 10 Hematological characteristics of anemic and non-anemic women; 23 categorized by thalassemia and iron status Table 11 Effect of thalassemia types on anemia 24 Table 12 Distribution of the 3 clinically significant thalassemia among 275 25 reproductive-age women with different ethnicities viii LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS CHC Commune health center CI Confident interval EDTA Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid DCIP Dichlorophenol-indophenol DHC District Health Center GDP Gross Domestic Products Hb Hemoglobin Hct Hematocrit ID Iron deficiency IDA Iron deficiency anemia MCV Mean corpuscular volume MCH Mean corpuscular hemoglobin MCHC Mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration RBC Red blood cell RDW Red blood cell distribution width 1 CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1. Background and rationale Anemia is a condition in which hemoglobin (Hb) and/or red blood cell (RBC) production is reduced.
Anemia is defined as Hb concentration less than cutoff value adjusted for age and sex; i. Hb < 11 g/dl for pregnant women and Hb < 12 g/dl for non-pregnant women [1]. Individuals with anemia may have unpleasant outcomes that lead to reduced work performance such as fatigue, dizziness, headache and shortness of breath. When anemia becomes severe (Hb < 7.0 g/dL), heart failure may occur [2].
Therefore, it is necessary to implement prevention program for anemia among the high risk population. Population in developing countries are considered at high risk due partly to the low socio- economic status. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately 50% of Southeast Asian populations are anemic [1]. It is assumed that iron deficiency (ID) is the main cause.
Poor consumption of dietary iron is thought to be related to anemia, the so-called iron deficiency anemia (IDA). While preschool-age children and pregnant women are at high risk because of the increased requirement of iron, non-pregnant women of reproductive age are also at-risk due to regular blood loss [2]. Other causes include parasitic infections and micronutrient deficiency as well as inherited hemoglobin disorders, thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies. Several studies conducting in this region have shown that the inherited disorders rather than ID are associated with anemia [3-6].
Vietnam is one of developing countries in Southeast Asia where there are up to 54 different ethnic groups. Amongst these ethnicities, the Kinh (Viet) is the majority group, accounting for nearly 86% of Vietnamese population [7]. Other minority groups reside in mountainous areas where health care accessibility is limited. Previous studies conducting in the country have demonstrated the high prevalence of thalassemia and hemoglobinopathies in several groups of ethnic minorities [8-11].
It is therefore of interest to investigate the prevalence of anemia and its risk factors among the minorities. 2 Thai Nguyen University of Medicine and Pharmacy (TUMP) is in the Northeast of Vietnam and plays a key role in producing medical doctors for the mountainous provinces of Vietnam. TUMP has approximate five thousand students, of which more than a third are ethnic minority students. They come from different areas of the northeastern region where the rate of malnutrition is high [12-14].
Being reproductive-age females of ethnic minorities, the risk of anemia is thought to be high. This study aims to determine the prevalence and risk factors for anemia among females of ethnic minorities studying at the TUMP. Information gained will be useful for implementing appropriate control program for anemia among the reproductive-age female of ethnic minorities.1 What is the prevalence of anemia among females of ethnic minorities studying at TUMP? 2.2 What are the factors associated with anemia among females of ethnic minorities studying at TUMP? 3.1 General objective To determine the prevalence of anemia among female students of ethnic minorities studying at TUMP 3.1 To determine the prevalence of anemia, IDA, and the 3 clinically significant thalassemia, i. α0-thal, β-thal, and Hb E among female students of ethnic minorities studying at TUMP 3.2 To compare the proportions of ID and thalassemia among anemic women studying at TUMP 3.