Factors associated to anemia in infants residents of an urban region

Authors

  • Milene Cristine Pessoa Belo HorizonteMG, Universidade Federal de Minas, Escola de Enfermagem , Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde e Enfermagem, Brasil
  • Ann Kristine Jansen Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Enfermagem , Departamento de Enfermagem Básica
  • Gustavo Velásquez-Meléndez Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Enfermagem , Departamento de Enfermagem Materno-Infantil e Saúde Pública
  • Jose Divino Lopes Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Enfermagem , Departamento de Enfermagem Materno-Infantil e Saúde Pública
  • Mark Anthony Beinner Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Escola de Enfermagem , Departamento de Enfermagem Materno-Infantil e Saúde Pública

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35699/reme.v15i1.50407

Keywords:

Iron Deficiency Anemia, Frequency, Social Economic Factors, Infants, Preschoolers

Abstract

The objective of this study was to investigate the frequency of anemia in children and their association with socioeconomic, demographic and biological variables. Between May and July 2007 mothers of infants and preschoolers aged 6 to 24 months were invited to participate in the study. Hemoglobin (Hb) level was assessed on site by finger prick blood tests using the cyanmethemoglobin method. Additionally, mothers were asked to answer a social economic, biological and demographic questionnaire. The frequency of anemia in the 556 children examined was 37.9%. The results show that anemia was associated with the following variables: mother's schooling less than 8 years (PR=1.37; CI95% 1.11-1.70), open sewers or cesspit nearby (PR=1.51; 1.21-1.87), the child has at least one sibling younger than five years old (PR=1.43; 1.16-1.76), children from 6 to 12 months of age (PR=1.36; 1.11 - 1.67) and of the male sex (PR=1.25; 1.03-1.54). The frequency of anemia detected in young children represents a public health problem aggravated in low income families. These results highlight the need to re-evaluate the current intervention policy. The implementation of continuous food security mechanisms and nutrition are urgently recommended in the area under study are mechanisms which will enable an early response to the problem of anemia.

Published

2011-03-01

Issue

Section

Research

How to Cite

1.
Factors associated to anemia in infants residents of an urban region. REME Rev Min Enferm. [Internet]. 2011 Mar. 1 [cited 2024 Dec. 23];15(1). Available from: https://periodicos.ufmg.br/index.php/reme/article/view/50407

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