title: The effect of dietary habits and socioeconomic status on the prevalence of iron deficiency in children of northern Greece.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Despite encouraging reports concerning the declining prevalence of iron deficiency, this easily preventable disorder is still an existing problem in presumably developed regions.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the prevalence of iron deficiency and relevant anemia in children residing in Northern Greece and to study possible associations.
  
  
  METHODS
  3,100 children aged 8 months to 15 years were evaluated. Socioeconomic status was determined based on the parents' profession and place of residence. Nutrition habits were also evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The incidence of iron deficiency was found to be 14% and that of iron deficiency anemia was 2.9%, with a higher prevalence in children younger than 2 years of age. The place of residence was the most significant factor in relation to the development of iron depletion in the children studied. Additional independent factors were revealed to be breast-feeding, meat-containing meal consumption and the consumption of non-home-cooked meals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Iron deficiency remains prevalent in Northern Greece, mainly affecting the vulnerable toddler group. Nutritional iron deficiency is still a severe public health problem even in what are considered to be developed regions. An improvement of dietary habits and an upgrading of semiurban areas should contribute substantially to decreasing the prevalence of iron depletion in Greek children.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Pediatrics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hippokration General Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gompakis
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Economou
authors.forename: Chaido
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tsantali
authors.forename: Vassilios
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kouloulias
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keramida
authors.forename: Miranda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Athanasiou-Metaxa
mesh_terms: D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004032:Diet; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D015995:Prevalence; D012923:Social Class