Abstract
The present study investigated the factors associated with anemia and micronutrient deficiencies in a cross-sectional analysis conducted with 150 children aged 11 to 14 months attending at basic health centers in Rio Branco, Acre. Venous blood samples were obtained to assess the occurrence of anemia and deficiencies of iron (ID), vitamin A (VAD), and B12 (VB12D). Multiple Poisson regression models were used to identify factors associated with anemia. Anemia, ID, VAD and B12D were observed in 23%, 76%, 18% and 20% of children, respectively. The factors associated with anemia were: do not be only child, living in households without access to cable TV or internet, stunting, late introduction of the complementary feeding (more than 240 days), VAD, VB12D, and current evidence of infection (plasma CRP > 5 mg/L). There was a lower prevalence of anemia among children with birth weight > 3,500 g. Overall, 82% of the study children had at least one of the micronutrient deficiencies (ID, VAD and VB12D). Actions with emphasis on timely and healthy feeding practices, better management of morbidities and supplementation with other micronutrients should be focused on the improvement of child care services at primary health care in this county.
Highlights
Anemia in infancy remains a public health problem, because of its prevalence, and its severity
The present study investigated the factors associated with anemia and micronutrient deficiencies in a cross-sectional analysis conducted with 150 children aged 11 to 14 months attending at basic health centers in Rio Branco, Acre
Half of these cases have been attributed to iron deficiency (ID), which is why anemia is used as an important indicator to estimate the magnitude of this deficiency in children[2]
Summary
Anemia in infancy remains a public health problem, because of its prevalence, and its severity. Some 273 million pre-school children suffer from this nutritional problem, or about 43% of the population in that age group[1]. Half of these cases have been attributed to iron deficiency (ID), which is why anemia is used as an important indicator to estimate the magnitude of this deficiency in children[2]. Anemia is related to increased infant and neonatal morbimortality. Other factors considered in the etiology of anemia are genetic hemoglobinopathies, malaria, infections, other micronutrient deficiencies (Vitamin A, Vitamin B12 and Folate), and exposure to adverse environmental and socioeconomic conditions[4] The combined effects of multiple vitamin and mineral deficiencies from conception to the age of two contribute increased perinatal mortality, and reduce the individual’s physical ability to work and his/her productivity, which in turn has a negative impact on the country’s economic growth[3,4].
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