The study sample comprised 281 children between the ages of 6 months and 14 years who were admitted to Makassed hospital for elective minor surgery or for non-hemorrhagic pathology between January of 1986 and June of 1989.
The results showed that 53% of children under the age of three years were anemic (Hb <11 mg%). Of the children aged three to five years 20.4% had Hb levels of less than 11 mg%.>
The authors conclude that anemia among Palestinian children was mainly due to Iron deficiency which is further aggravated by the high prevalence of thalassemia in the area.