[Prevalence and factors associated with iron deficiency in infants treated at a primary care center in Belém, Pará, Brazil].
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. Iron-deficiency anemia (hemoglobin < 11 g/dl and ferritin < 12 microg/l) was diagnosed in 55.1% of the sample, depletion of body iron reserves (hemoglobin < 11 g/dl and ferritin < 12 microg/l) in 15.3%, and iron sufficiency (hemoglobin < 11 g/dl and ferritin < 12 microg/l) in 18.1%. The results of the logistic regression model showed associations between iron deficiency (ferritin < 12 microg/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 < or = 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 public health problem.
Neves
Márcia Bitar Portella
MB
Departamento de Saúde Integrada, Universidade do Estado do Pará, Belém, Brasil.
da Silva
Edina Mariko Koga
EM
de Morais
Mauro Batista
MB
D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005260:Female; D005293:Ferritins / Q000097:blood; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D006454:Hemoglobins; D005293:Ferritins