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Published on: January 19, 2024
Anemia and micronutrient deficiencies in infants attending at Primary Health Care in Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil
Cristieli Sérgio de Menezes Oliveira1, Rosângela Aparecida Augusto2, Pascoal Torres Muniz1
1Centro de Ciências da Saúde e do Desporto, Universidade Federal do Acre, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil, crisufac1@gmail.com.
Insights
Anemia and micronutrient deficiencies are prevalent in Rio Branco infants. Factors include not being an only child, poor access to amenities, stunting, delayed feeding, and infections.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Anemia and micronutrient deficiencies pose significant health risks to infants.
- Early childhood is a critical period for growth and development, making nutritional status paramount.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and associated factors of anemia and specific micronutrient deficiencies (iron, vitamin A, vitamin B12) in infants aged 11-14 months in Rio Branco, Acre.
- To identify key risk factors for anemia to inform targeted public health interventions.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 150 children aged 11-14 months attending basic health centers.
- Venous blood samples analyzed for anemia, iron deficiency (ID), vitamin A deficiency (VAD), and vitamin B12 deficiency (VB12D).
- Multiple Poisson regression models employed to determine factors associated with anemia.
Main Results:
- Prevalence rates: Anemia (23%), ID (76%), VAD (18%), VB12D (20%).
- Factors associated with anemia included: not being an only child, lack of cable TV/internet access, stunting, late complementary feeding (>240 days), VAD, VB12D, and current infection (CRP > 5 mg/L).
- Lower anemia prevalence observed in infants with birth weight > 3,500 g. 82% had at least one micronutrient deficiency.
Conclusions:
- High rates of anemia and multiple micronutrient deficiencies necessitate urgent public health action in Rio Branco.
- Interventions should focus on promoting timely, healthy feeding practices, managing childhood illnesses, and ensuring adequate micronutrient supplementation.
- Improving primary health care services is crucial for addressing these deficiencies and enhancing child well-being.
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.
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