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A Point-of-Care Method with Integrated Decision Support Tool to Estimate Anemia at Population Level
05:35

A Point-of-Care Method with Integrated Decision Support Tool to Estimate Anemia at Population Level

Published on: January 19, 2024

Prevalence of anemia among preschoolers and response to iron supplementation

Juliana T Costa1, Mario M Bracco, Paulo A P Gomes

  • 1Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Aracaju, SE, Brazil. julitcosta@gmail.com

Jornal De Pediatria
|December 3, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Anemia affected 25.6% of preschool children in Brazil. Prompt treatment and school-based screening significantly improved hemoglobin levels and recovery rates, addressing a key public health concern.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Public Health
  • Nutritional Epidemiology

Background:

  • Anemia is a significant public health issue affecting children globally.
  • Preschool-aged children are particularly vulnerable to nutritional deficiencies, including iron deficiency anemia.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of anemia in preschool children in Ilhabela, Brazil.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of a ferrous sulfate treatment regimen in anemic children.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional study involving 667 preschool children in Ilhabela, Brazil.
  • Hemoglobin levels were measured, and anemic children received a 12-week ferrous sulfate treatment with follow-up assessments.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of anemia was 25.6% (170 children).
  • Anemia was most common in children aged 60-65 months (36%).
  • Treatment increased median hemoglobin from 10.5 g/dL to 11.8 g/dL, with 76% recovery.

Conclusions:

  • School-based anemia screening and prompt treatment are effective public health strategies.
  • Mid-treatment follow-up enhances therapeutic outcomes.
  • This approach successfully addressed a major public health challenge in the studied population.
Abstract

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