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Iron status and anaemia in preschool children in Sydney
M Karr1, G Alperstein, J Causer
1Division of General Practice, Central Sydney Area Health Service.
Insights
Iron deficiency anemia is not a major public health issue for Sydney preschoolers. However, targeted interventions can further reduce iron deficiency in children aged 12-36 months.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Nutrition
- Public Health
- Hematology
Background:
- Iron deficiency is a common nutritional concern in young children globally.
- Assessing iron status in preschool populations is crucial for early intervention.
- Sydney preschool children's iron status requires specific investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of iron deficiency and related conditions in Sydney preschool children.
- To identify risk factors associated with low iron status in this demographic.
- To inform public health strategies for pediatric iron nutrition.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving 678 children aged 9-62 months in Sydney.
- Iron status assessed using plasma ferritin, zinc protoporphyrin, red cell indices, and hemoglobin.
- Risk factors evaluated through a questionnaire, with statistical analysis including odds ratios.
Main Results:
- Overall prevalence: iron depletion (10.5%), iron deficiency (2.8%), iron deficiency anemia (1.1%).
- Highest prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (3.0%) in 24-35 month olds; highest iron depletion (18.7%) and deficiency (5.4%) in 9-23 month olds.
- Low iron status linked to age under 24 months and low red meat consumption; vitamin supplements showed a potential protective effect.
Conclusions:
- Iron deficiency anemia is not a major public health problem in Sydney preschool children.
- Intervention strategies can be targeted to children aged 12-36 months to further decrease iron deficiency prevalence.
- Monitoring and nutritional guidance remain important for this age group.
Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to determine the iron status of preschool children in Sydney. We assessed 678 children aged 9 to 62 months living in 32 randomly selected census collection districts in central and southern Sydney for iron status using plasma ferritin; of these 678 children, 542 had zinc protoporphyrin tests, red cell indices and haemoglobin tests. Risk factors for iron deficiency were assessed by an administered questionnaire. Overall, the prevalence of iron depletion was 10.5 per cent, iron deficiency 2.8 per cent and iron deficiency anaemia 1.1 per cent. The 24-to-35-month age group (176 children) had the highest prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia of 3.0 per cent although iron depletion (18.7 per cent) and iron deficiency (5.4 per cent) were highest among the 9-to-23-month age group (182 children). Low iron status was related to age of under 24 months (odds ratio (OR) 2.86,95 per cent confidence interval (CI) 1.72 to 4.76). After adjustment for this age effect, the consumption of red meat fewer than four times a week was significantly associated with iron depletion (OR 2.27, CI 1.25 to 4.17) and there was a tendency for children who were being given a vitamin supplement to be less likely to be iron depleted (OR 4.00, CI 0.95 to 16.67). Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia do not represent a major public health problem in preschool children in Sydney. However, for children in the age range of 12 to 36 months there is scope for interventions to further reduce the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia.