A prevalence study of iron deficiency and its risk factors of 7 months to 3 years old infants in Children Health Care Department of Guangdong Province Women and Children's Hospital

Abstract

Objective To investigate the prevalence rate,distribution characteristics and risk factors of iron deficiency (ID) of infants in Children Health Care Department of Guangdong Province Women and Children' s Hospital,and to provide reference for prevention strategies and measures of infants' ID for Guangzhou City.Methods Selected infants 6 months to 3 years old in Guangdong Province Women and Children' s Hospital for health care.By means of inspecting infants' Hemoglobin and serum Feritin,we investigated the prevalence rate and ID-related factors.We analyzed results by descriptive epidemiology and non-conditional logistic regression model.Results Multi-factor analysis showed that ID risk factors of 7 months to 1 year-old group included irrational supplementary food,no adding vitamin A,eczema in early stage of infant,temporary live,mother's anemia in later period of pregnance; ID risk factors of 1 to 2 years-old group included using cup over 2 years-old,dining difficulty,eating fruits and vegetables occasionally; ID risk factors of 2 to 3 years-old group included no interest in food,stomach illness in someone who lives together;ID risk factors of 1 to 3 years-old group included age,using cup over 2 years old,dining difficulty,no interest in food,temporary live.Conclusions According to the prevalence study,we can get these measures for ID:developing health education,strengthening nutrition of pregnant women,sensible arrangement of babies'feed,maintaining a balanced diet of children,diagnosis and treatment ID of children in time,application of iron fortified food in ID high-risk crowd. Key words: Infant; Iron deficiency; Cross-sectional study; Risk factor