Table 1 Operational Definitions

Anaemia

Was defined by using WHO classification of anaemia as haemoglobin level of less than 11 g/dl [32].

Mild anaemia

Was defined by haemoglobin level of 10 to 10.9 g/dl.

Moderate anaemia

Was defined by haemoglobin level of 7 to 9.9 g/dl.

Severe anaemia

Was defined by haemoglobin level of less than 7 g/dl.

Iron deficiency

Was defined as serum ferritin concentration <12 μg/l.

Iron deficiency anaemia

Was defined as concurrent anaemia and iron deficiency.

Serum ferritin and iron deficiency

Was corrected for infection using C-reactive protein therefore Serum ferritin level was considered low when C-reactive protein was negative and serum ferritin level of <12 μg/ml or when C-reactive protein was positive and serum ferritin level of <30 μg/ml [33].

Z-score(SD-score)

Was equal to (observed value – median value of reference population)/standard deviation value of reference population

Mild malnutrition

Defined as per WHO guidelines was considered when weight for height/length is between median and -1SD.

Moderate malnutrition

Defined as per WHO guidelines was considered when weight for height/length is between -2SD and -3SD (between 70–80 %) with no oedema

Severe malnutrition

Was defined as the presence of oedema of both feet, or severe wasting or both (weight for height/length < 70 % or ≤ −3SD).

Morphological type of anaemia

Was defined as the erythrocyte shape, size and haemoglobinisation as seen on light microscopic examination of the blood film

Normochromic

Was a descriptive term applied to a red blood cell with a normal amount of colour within the red blood cell.

Hypochromic

Was a descriptive term applied to a red blood cell with a decreased concentration of haemoglobin where the cells have an expanded central zone of pallor greater than one-third of the diameter of the cell.

Peasant

A traditional class of farmers who owns small farms, in other words a none employee or business person