Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 5, 2026
Breakfast Habits among Schoolchildren in the City of Uruguaiana, Brazil
Published on: July 29, 2020
Iron salts and vitamins: use, purchase and sources of obtainment among children in Brazil
Juliana do Amaral Carneiro Diel1, Andréa Dâmaso Bertoldi2, Tatiane da Silva Dal Pizzol1
1Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brasil.
Insights
Iron salt and vitamin use in Brazilian children is low, particularly for iron salts. While vitamins are more common, iron salt use decreases with age and shows regional variations, with many obtained free from public pharmacies.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health
- Pharmaceutical Policy
Background:
- Understanding the prevalence of iron salt and vitamin supplementation in children is crucial for assessing nutritional status and informing public health interventions.
- Previous data on the utilization patterns, procurement methods, and regional disparities of these essential micronutrients in Brazilian children is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of iron salt and vitamin use among children aged 0-12 years in Brazil.
- To investigate the sources of obtainment and financing methods for these supplements within the pediatric population.
Main Methods:
- A population-based cross-sectional study (Brazilian National Survey on Access, Utilization, and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines - PNAUM) was conducted.
- Data was collected from 7,528 children's tutors via questionnaires regarding supplement use, financing, sources, sociodemographics, and chronic conditions.
- Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed, with results presented as frequencies and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI).
Main Results:
- Overall prevalence of iron salt use was 1.6% (95%CI: 1.2-2.1), significantly higher in infants under 1 year (8.5%) and the Southeast region (2.3%).
- Vitamin use prevalence was 4.8% (95%CI: 4.2-5.6), with higher rates in children under 1 year (24.3%) and the North region (8.6%).
- Iron salts were primarily obtained from public health system (SUS) pharmacies (51.5%), while vitamins were mostly purchased from commercial pharmacies (80.6%).
Conclusions:
- Iron salt utilization in Brazilian children is notably low and decreases with age, exhibiting regional variations.
- A significant portion of iron salts are obtained free of charge through the public health system (SUS).
- Vitamin supplementation is more prevalent than iron salts, with distinct procurement channels observed for each.
Abstract:
To verify the prevalence of use, purchase and sources of iron salts and vitamins by children aged from 0 to 12 years in Brazil. Population-based transversal study (Brazilian National Survey on Access, Utilization, and Promotion of Rational Use of Medicines - PNAUM), including 7,528 children up to 12 years of age. Information was obtained through questionnaires answered by the children's tutors, about the use of iron salts and vitamins 15 days before the interview; forms of financing, and sources of obtainment, sociodemographic characteristics, and presence of chronic disease. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed and the main variables were expressed by relative frequencies and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI). The prevalence of use of iron salts was 1.6% (95%CI: 1.2-2.1), with higher prevalence among children under 1 year old (8.5%; 95%CI: 6.3-11.5) and residents of the southeastern region (2.3%; 95%CI: 1.5-3.4). Prevalence of use of vitamins was 4.8% (95%CI: 4.2-5.6), with higher prevalence among children under 1 year old (24.3%; 95%CI: 20.3-28.7) and residents of the northern region (8.6%; 95%CI: 6.2-11.7). Purchase occurred by direct reimbursement for 41.6% (95%CI: 27.9-56.7) of the iron salts, and for 82.4% (95%CI: 76.3-87.2) of the vitamins. The iron salts were predominantly obtained from SUS pharmacies (51.5%; 95%CI: 36.4-66.4), and the vitamins from commercial pharmacies (80.6%; 95%CI: 77.4-85.6). The results suggested the use of iron salts in the Brazilian pediatric population was low, with reduction in use as age increased, regional differences and free-of-charge obtainment, predominantly from SUS.
Related Concept Videos
04:08Determining the pH of Salt Solutions
02:02Responses to Salt Stress
01:30Vitamins
01:25Methods of Obtaining Topography
01:29Need for Obtaining Pure Cultures
01:23Role of Skin in Vitamin D Synthesis
The solar UV B rays (290-315 nm) are absorbed by the skin, and 7-dehydrocholesterol (provitamin D3) photolyzes it to previtamin D3, which undergoes a rapid transformation to vitamin...