Sirarat Katesomboon. Prevalence of iron deficiency and related factors among infants aged 9-12 months in well baby clinics of Ramathibodi hospital and BMA medical college and Vajira hospital. Master's Degree(Food and Nutrition for Development ). Mahidol University. Mahidol University Library and Knowledge Center. : Mahidol University, 2009.
Prevalence of iron deficiency and related factors among infants aged 9-12 months in well baby clinics of Ramathibodi hospital and BMA medical college and Vajira hospital
Abstract:
Iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in infants and children
are the most common nutritional deficiencies worldwide. Infants aged between 6-24
months, school-age children, and pregnant women are the high risk groups for iron
deficiency. The data for prevalence of ID and IDA in Thai infants are limited. Hence,
this study aimed to determine iron status, prevalence of ID and IDA, and their
determinants among 9-12 month-old infants.
A cross-sectional survey of 207 healthy full term infants aged between 9-12
months and their parents was conducted at well baby clinics of Ramathibodi Hospital
and BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital during February-October 2008. Data
collected included general characteristics, socio-economic status, infant nutritional
status, feeding modes, and dietary intake. Blood samples were analyzed for
hemoglobin (Hb), hemotocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), serum ferritin
(SF), C-reactive protein, and hemoglobin typing.
The mean values of Hb, Hct, MCV, and SF of infants were 11.6+1.0 g/dL,
34.7+2.8%, 71.5+6.9 fL, and 27.8+2.1 ng/ml, respectively. The prevalence of anemia,
iron deficiency, and iron deficiency anemia were 22.2%, 4.4%, and 3.9%,
respectively. Prevalence of abnormal hemoglobin types was 27.7%.
Compared to infants with normal SF, those with low SF consumed
significantly lower amounts of animal food sources: pork (8.2+5.4 vs. 15.0+13.1 g/d)
and liver (2.9+2.7 vs. 5.9+6.2 g/d). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that
insufficient finances, low birth weight (< 2,500 g), prolonged predominant
breastfeeding without complementary food, and low meat intake (adjusted OR
(95%CI): 6.2(1.5-26.3), 10.7(2.2-51.9), 4.4(1.2-16.9), and 5.3(1.5-19.2), respectively)
were significantly associated with low serum ferritin.
Anemia was prevalent among 9-12 month old infants in well baby clinics of
Ramathibodi Hospital and BMA Medical College and Vajira Hospital but instances of
ID and IDA were low. Insufficient finances, low birth weight, prolonged breastfeeding
beyond 6 months, and low meat intake were associated with low iron status