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Iron deficiency in Massachusetts communities: Socioeconomic and demographic risk factors among children
J D Sargent1, T A Stukel, M A Dalton
1Department of Pediatrics, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH 03756, USA.
Insights
Community iron deficiency in children is linked to socioeconomic factors and higher proportions of Southeast Asian and Hispanic populations. This highlights disparities in child health across Massachusetts communities.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Nutritional Epidemiology
- Public Health Policy
Background:
- Iron deficiency is a significant global health concern in children.
- Understanding community-level risk factors is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between community iron deficiency rates in children and sociodemographic characteristics in Massachusetts.
- To identify specific community factors associated with increased prevalence of childhood iron deficiency.
Main Methods:
- Screened 238,273 children aged 6-59 months in Massachusetts between April 1990 and March 1991.
- Defined iron deficiency using erythrocyte protoporphyrin and blood lead levels.
- Utilized 1990 US Census data for sociodemographic information.
Main Results:
- Five percent of communities exceeded a 13.9% iron deficiency rate per 100 children.
- Higher iron deficiency rates correlated with increased proportions of Southeast Asians (OR=1.10) and Hispanics (OR=1.008), and high school incompletion (OR=1.028).
- Children with Southeast Asian and Hispanic surnames showed significantly higher iron deficiency risks (RR=3.6 and RR=1.6, respectively).
Conclusions:
- Significant variation in childhood iron deficiency rates exists across Massachusetts communities.
- Low socioeconomic status and high proportions of Southeast Asian and Hispanic populations are associated with higher community iron deficiency rates.
- Findings underscore the need for community-specific public health strategies to address childhood iron deficiency.
Objectives:
This study examined the association between community rates of iron deficiency in children and sociodemographic characteristics of Massachusetts communities.
Methods:
Between April 1990 and March 1991, 238 273 Mssachusetts children 6 through 59 months of age were screened; iron deficiency was defined as an erythrocyte protopophyrin concentration of 0.62 micromol/L or higher and a blood lead level of less than 1.2 micromol/L. Sociodemographic data were obtained from the 1990 US Census.
Results:
Five percent of communities had iron deficiency rates greater than 13.9 per 100 children screened. Iron deficiency rate was positively associated with proportion of Southeast Asians (odds ratio [OR] = 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.08, 1.12), proportion of Hispanics (OR = 1.008, 95% CI = 1.002, 1.013), and high school incompletion (OR = 1.028, 95% CI = 1.020, 1.035). Similarly, an examination of three Massachusetts cities indicated that the iron deficiency rate was higher for children with Southeast Asian (relative risk [RR] = 3.6, 95% CI = 3.3, 3.8) and Hispanic (RR = 1.6, 95% CI = 1.5, 1.8) surnames than for all other children.
Conclusions:
Wide variation exists in iron deficiency rates for children in Massachusetts communities. Community iron deficiency was associated with low socioeconomic status and high proportions of Southeast Asians and Hispanics.