Social-ecological model determinants of anaemia severity levels among children under five in Ashanti Region: A multinomial logistic regression based on the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey

Anaemia is a significant global health issue, particularly affecting children under five years and women of reproductive age, with children being disproportionately impacted due to rapid growth and increased iron demand. It is an indicator of poor nutrition and health and a major barrier to social and economic development. For children under five, anaemia is a haemoglobin concentration below 110 g/l. This study aimed to examine the severity of anaemia among children under five in Ghana and identify predictors based on the socio-ecological model. Using data from the 2022 Ghana Demographic and Health Survey (GDHS) and a sample of 662 children, multinomial logistic regression was applied for the analysis. The findings revealed that 32.4% of children experienced some form of anaemia, with 11.9% having moderate to severe anaemia. Individual (currently breastfeeding, had diarrhoea recently maternal age, maternal education, wealth index and ethnicity) and institutional (proximity to health facility) factors predicted anaemia severity. This study underscores the need for targeted interventions focused on individual factors, healthcare access, and breastfeeding support to reduce anaemia prevalence among children in Ghana.