title: Effects of maternal education on diet, anemia, and iron deficiency in Korean school-aged children.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We investigated the relationship among socioeconomic status factors, the risk of anemia, and iron deficiency among school-aged children in Korea.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of fourth-grade students aged 10 y recruited from nine elementary schools in Korean urban areas in 2008 (n = 717). Anthropometric and blood biochemistry data were obtained for this cross-sectional observational study. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin levels lower than 11.5 g/dl. Iron deficiency was defined as serum iron levels lower than 40 ug/dl. We also obtained data on parental education from questionnaires and on children's diets from 3-day food diaries. Parental education was categorized as low or high, with the latter representing an educational level beyond high school.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Children with more educated mothers were less likely to develop anemia (P = 0.0324) and iron deficiency (P = 0.0577) than were those with less educated mothers. This group consumed more protein (P = 0.0004) and iron (P = 0.0012) from animal sources than did the children of less educated mothers, as reflected by their greater consumption of meat, poultry, and derivatives (P < 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis revealed a significant inverse relationship between maternal education and the prevalence of anemia (odds ratio: 0.52; 95% confidence interval: 0.32, 0.85).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a contributor to socioeconomic status, maternal education is important in reducing the risk of anemia and iron deficiency and in increasing children's consumption of animal food sources.
authors.affiliation: Division of Metabolic Diseases, Korea National Institute of Health, Cheongwon-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do 363-951, South Korea.
authors.forename: Hyeon-Jeong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Hye-Ja
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Han Byul
authors.initials: HB
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Ju Yeon
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jae-Heon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Kyung-Hee
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Jihyun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D015930:Diet Records; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009035:Mothers; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012923:Social Class
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