Abstract: Objective To know and compare the prevalence of anemia in Han and Li adults in Hainan province. Methods The current study was a cross-sectional study. By cluster sampling method, adults aged over 20 from Haikou city, Danzhou city, Changjiang county, Ledong county and Baisha county in Hainan province were surveyed in 2014. Results Totally 4590 participants from these 5 regions were surveyed. The total prevalence of anemia was 9.28%, 4.61% for males and 12.06% for females respec-tively. The prevalence in Han adults were 3.09% and 7.98 for males and females.The prevalence in Li adults were 7.14% and 17.13% for males and females respectively. According to data of the national census 2010, standardization was conducted.The age adjusted prevalence in Han population were lower than Li population by sex (male: Han 2.67%, Li 6.24%, female: Han 7.96% Li 17.39%). The age adjusted rural and urban prevalence were not significantly different (p>0.05) by sex and race, except for the lower prevalence observed in Han urban females than in Han rural females (p<0.05). Conclusion Li people had higher prevalence than Han. Except nutrition status, Mediterranean anemiasusceptibility genecarrying rate should be further identified in adults to estimate is there a genetic effect in order to early prevention and intervention.

Key words: Anemia , Hemoglobin, Prevalence