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Iron deficiency anemia in an Egyptian pediatric population: a cross-sectional study
Mohamed M E Al Ghwass, Eman Fawzy Halawa1, Samar Mohamed Sabry
1Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt.
Insights
Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) affects 64% of children in Egypt, particularly those in rural areas with lower socioeconomic status and maternal education. Early iron supplementation and dietary advice are crucial public health interventions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Hematology
- Public Health
Background:
- Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a significant global health concern, especially in developing nations.
- Early childhood is a critical period for iron absorption and development, making children vulnerable to IDA.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of IDA in children aged 6 months to 12 years.
- To identify sociodemographic factors associated with IDA in this pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 300 children at Al-Fayoum University Hospital.
- Data collection via questionnaires and clinical/laboratory evaluations (CBC, serum iron, ferritin, transferrin saturation).
Main Results:
- A high prevalence of IDA was observed in 64% of the children studied.
- Risk factors identified include rural residence, low social class, and low maternal education.
- Children with IDA consumed diets significantly below recommended iron intake.
Conclusions:
- IDA represents a major public health issue in Egypt, disproportionately affecting vulnerable children.
- Recommendations include dietary counseling on iron-rich foods and prophylactic iron supplementation for infants aged 6-23 months.
Objective:
The aim of this study is to assess the frequency of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and associated sociodemographic factors among children between 6 months and 12 years of age.
Materials And Methods:
This cross-sectional study enrolled 300 children from June 2011 to June 2012 visiting the pediatric outpatient clinics of Al-Fayoum University Hospital. Data were collected using a structured interview questionnaire. Sociodemographic variables studied included sex, residence, family size, fathers' education, mothers' education, and crowding index. Included patients were evaluated clinically and laboratory for complete blood picture, serum iron, serum ferritin, and transferrin saturation.
Results:
It was found that 64% of studied children had IDA (20% mild, 41.7% moderate, and 2.3% severe). The logistic regression analysis found that children from rural areas, those from low social class and those of low maternal educational level had a higher risk for IDA than other children. Infants with IDA were found to consume foods with low iron content 50% below recommended daily allowance.
Conclusion:
The high frequency of IDA is a severe public health problem in developing countries like Egypt, especially in children from rural areas, those from low social class and those of low maternal educational level. Iron-rich foods should be advised by health care providers. Prophylactic iron supplements should be given to all infants from 6 to 23 months.
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