Quantifying the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the prevalence of anemia rates in children under five in Peru: a spatial analytical strategy

The significant rise in childhood anemia prevalence in Peru coincided with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This impact was not homogeneous across the country, with some areas experiencing significant disruption while others demonstrating only a mild effect. In this research, we present a classification approach for the pandemic’s impact in small geographic areas, based on Small Area Estimation approach, employing data from 2016, 2019 and 2022. This approach enables the identification of unaffected areas and the determination of distinct impact patterns for the remaining areas. The proposed disaggregated analysis provides further insight into the significant increase of anemia among children under five during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru. Notably, it facilitates evaluation and comprehension of the risk factors that contribute to the susceptibility of certain areas and regions to natural hazards, such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Given the notable discrepancies in the pandemic’s impact on childhood anemia at the area level, as revealed by our analysis, the findings presented in this article provide a basis for policymakers to elaborate strategies for targeted interventions and resource allocation, aimed at mitigating the potential consequences of future hazards within Peru.