Abstract
According to the WHO, anaemia is a severe public health problem when the prevalence is ≥ 40 %. In 2019, in Peru, 40·1 % of children (aged 6 to 35 months) are diagnosed as anaemic. This is a concern since, despite the efforts of the governments to reduce the prevalence, the problem has stagnated since 2011. The treatment applied to deal with anaemia is Fe supplementation. Although Fe is essential for cell function, an excess can produce adverse responses, such as gut inflammation affecting microbiota and resulting in diarrhoeic episodes. To determine the association between diarrhoea and Fe supplementation in children with and without anaemia, controlling for different socio-demographic variables. We conducted via logistic regression to obtain diarrhoea prevalence ratios (PR), adjusted by age, sex, geographic region, water and sanitation service, and rurality. The survey asked for recent episodes of diarrhoea during the last 7 d; similarly, after the consumption of Fe supplements during the last 12 months before the survey. Peru. The Demographic and Family Health Survey (DHS) is conducted annually at home among 14 202 children on average (2009-2019). Fe supplementation in the last 7 d (PR = 1·09) or the last 12 months (PR = 1·19) (P < 0·0001) was associated with an increased risk of diarrhoea. The same association was observed between Fe supplementation and the presence of anaemia. Fe supplementation is associated with diarrhoea and overuse in children should be avoided.
Highlights
According to the WHO, anaemia is a severe public health problem when the prevalence is ≥ 40 %
The frequency of Peruvian children aged 6–59 months with recent episodes of diarrhoea dropped from 2009 to 2013 and remained relatively steady through 2019 in both the total population assessed in the surveys (Fig. 1(a)) and the group of children with access to drinking water at home (Fig. 1(b))
The pattern through the years is the same, the prevalence of diarrhoea was lower in the group of children with drinking water at home
Summary
According to the WHO, anaemia is a severe public health problem when the prevalence is ≥ 40 %. In 2019, in Peru, 40·1 % of children (aged 6 to 35 months) are diagnosed as anaemic. This is a concern since, despite the efforts of the governments to reduce the prevalence, the problem has stagnated since 2011. Objective: To determine the association between diarrhoea and Fe supplementation in children with and without anaemia, controlling for different sociodemographic variables. Results: Fe supplementation in the last 7 d (PR = 1·09) or the last 12 months (PR = 1·19) (P < 0·0001) was associated with an increased risk of diarrhoea. Conclusions: Fe supplementation is associated with diarrhoea and overuse in children should be avoided
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