Impact of a food-based approach to improve iron nutrition of at-risk infants in northern Canada.
BACKGROUND
We evaluated the impact of a food-based approach in promoting iron-rich complementary feeding for mothers with infants at-risk for iron deficiency anemia (IDA).


METHODS
A repeat cross-sectional design was used to assess the impact of communication strategies to disseminate key messages promoting iron-rich complementary food. Two groups of mothers with infants, aged 7-10 months, at Time 1 (n = 32; response rate = 64%) and Time 2 (n = 22; response rate = 48%) were interviewed. Main outcome variables were infants' total iron and complementary food iron intakes measured by two 24-h recalls.


RESULTS
Complementary food iron intake increased between Time 1 (3.2 +/- 0.8 mg) and Time 2 (4.4 +/- 1.1 mg) (P < 0.05). The estimated prevalence of inadequacy was 56% (95% CI = 38%, 74%) for infants at Time 1 and 41% (95% CI = 20%, 62%) for infants at Time 2; however, this difference was not statistically significant.


CONCLUSIONS
A food-based approach, promoted in a community with infants at-risk for IDA, can positively contribute to improved intake of complementary food iron as well as provide a sustainable and relevant prevention strategy.
Verrall
Tanya
T
School of Dietetics and Human Nutrition, McGill University, Macdonald Campus, 21, 111 Lakeshore Road, Ste. Anne de Bellevue, Quebec H9X 3V9, Canada.
Gray-Donald
Katherine
K
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D019266:Iron, Dietary / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009034:Mother-Child Relations; D009751:Nutritional Requirements; D011336:Probability; D011792:Quebec; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012424:Rural Population; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D019266:Iron, Dietary