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Vanessa De la Cruz-Góngora1, Brenda Martínez-Tapia2, Teresa Shamah-Levy3
1Centro de Investigación en Evaluación y Encuestas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública. Cuernavaca, Morelos, México. vcruz@insp.mx.
Salud Publica De Mexico
|June 7, 2021
Summary
Micronutrient deficiencies and anemia are prevalent in Mexican children, particularly younger ones. These findings highlight the need to strengthen nutritional programs to prevent long-term health issues.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health
- Hematology
Background:
- Micronutrient deficiencies (MD) and anemia pose significant health challenges for children globally.
- Understanding the prevalence of these conditions in specific populations is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the current status of micronutrient deficiencies and anemia among Mexican children.
- To identify associations between socio-demographic factors and these deficiencies.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of serum data from 1,382 preschool-age (1-4 years) and 3,590 school-age (5-11 years) children from the Ensanut 2018-19 survey.
- Identification of iron deficiency (ID), vitamin B12 deficiency (B12D), vitamin A depletion (VADp), and anemia.
- Logistic regression models were employed to determine associations.
Main Results:
- Anemia prevalence was 28.9% in 1-4 year olds and 19.2% in 5-11 year olds.
- Prevalence of ID, B12D, and VADp ranged from 4.3% to 10%.
- 18.5% of preschool-age and 13% of school-age children had at least one MD associated with anemia.
Conclusions:
- Micronutrient deficiencies and anemia disproportionately affect younger children in Mexico.
- Reinforcing food fortification and supplementation programs is essential to mitigate long-term health consequences.