Title: [Prevalence and factors associated with iron deficiency in infants treated at a primary care center in Belem, Para, Brazil]

POPLINE Document Number: 315159

Author(s):

Neves MB
da Silva EM
de Morais MB

Source citation:

Cadernos de Saude Publica, 2005 Nov-Dec;21(6):1911-1918.

Abstract:

The objective was to verify the occurrence of iron deficiency and associated factors in infants. This cross-sectional study included 365 infants (defined here as 6-24 months of age) treated at a primary care center in Belém, Pará, Brazil. Irondeficiency anemia (hemoglobin < 11g/dl and ferritin < 12µg/l) was diagnosed in 55.1% of the sample, depletion of body iron reserves (hemoglobin < 11g/dl and ferritin < 12µg/l) in 15.3%, and iron sufficiency (hemoglobin < 11g/dl and ferritin < 12µg/l) in 18.1%. The results of the logistic regression model showed associations between iron deficiency (ferritin < 12µg/l) and: 6-12 month age group, OR (odds ratio) = 3.67 and 95% CI: 1.93-7.04; non-utilization of iron-fortified formula as the first milk used after interrupting breastfeeding, OR = 1.93 and 95% CI: 1.04-3.60; and per capita income = 1 minimum wage, OR = 2.69 and 95% CI: 1.30-5.59. The occurrence of iron deficiency was high, showing the need to adopt effective measures to prevent this important publichealth problem. (author's)

Keywords:

Brazil
Research Report
Cross Sectional Analysis
Infant
Iron
Primary Health Care
Anemia
Prevalence
Infant Nutrition
Socioeconomic Factors
Milk Substitutes
Food Supplementation
South America, Eastern
South America
Latin America
Americas
Developing Countries
Research Methodology
Youth
Age Factors
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Metals
Vitamins and Minerals
Physiology
Biology
Health Services
Delivery of Health Care
Health
Diseases
Measurement
Nutrition
Economic Factors
Nutrition Programs