Weaning Food Practice in Low Birth Weight Infants with Iron Deficiency Anemia

Abstract

Background: As improving of the techniques and equipments of NICU, the survival rate of low birth weight (LBW) infants has been increased. LBW babies have the risk for iron deficiency anemia (IDA) due to their rapid growth after birth and the low endowment of iron. We investigated weaning practices in LBW infants and their mother ’s knowledge about weaning with respect to iron nutrition. Methods: The 112 infants born lower than 2,500 g brought to Inha University hospital from March 2000 to July 2012 were assigned to this study. The range of the age of the infants is from 5 to 24 months. We classified the infants to 2 groups, that is, IDA group (n=41) and non-IDA group (n=71). We compared the hematologic value-hemoglobin ＜11 g/dL and serum ferritin ＜10 ng/mL or transferring saturation ＜15%-of the 2 groups, and the questionnaire about feeding pattern, weaning practice and mother’s nutritional knowledge about weaning. Results: The IDA group showed significant lower level of hematological parameters than non-IDA group (P＜0.05). The group diagnosed IDA before the first 6 months of life was tendency to breastfeed without iron-fortification (P＜0.01). The starting time for weaning showed no significant difference in 2 groups. The groups started weaning at 6-6.6 months after the birth (P=0.66). Both Education level of mother and gestational age have no effect on the time of beginning weaning. The food with weaning start is mainly home-made rice soup (over 80%) on both group (P=0.55). Over 20% of the IDA group tended to be delayed in weaning course (over 4 month), compared to the non-IDA group. Only 17% of IDA infants took iron, whereas 88% of non-IDA infants did. There were no significant differences in knowledge about weaning. Conclusion: Most of the IDA infants did feeding just by maternal milk until 6 months without iron fortification. LBW infants revealed lower hematologic values about IDA, and IDA group had a higher tendency to be delayed over 4 months in completing weaning course. Therefore, we recommend that the LBW infants with maternal feeding should take iron supplements or high-iron containing foods earlier.