Risks of anemia in infants according to dietary iron density and weight gain rate

Background. the objective of the study was to identify risk factors of infant anemia and to assess a new indirect method to identify the risks of anemia using a probability curve based on dietary iron density and weight gain rate.Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 110 term infants in a public health unit in Goiania, Brazil. A socioeconomic, demographic, anthropometric survey and dietary assessment were performed. Hemoglobin, red blood cell distribution width (RDW), ferritin, and C-reactive protein were determined.Results. the risk factors identified by final adjusted logistic regression were male infants (OR = 2.38), infants whose mothers were housewives (OR = 5.01), and households with more than three members (OR = 3.08). Another risk factor was the introduction of meat after 6 months (OR = 3.3). There was a positive dose-response effect between milk consumption and prevalence of anemia adjusted for sex and age (Effect = 0.120; 95% CI: 0.015, 0.225). Dietary iron density (from 6 to 9 months) and weight gain rate (from 9 to 12 months) significantly affected the probability of the infant having anemia.Conclusions. the probability curve for anemia obtained from dietary iron density and weight gain rate can be used to identify the risks of anemia, and together with the risk factors identified are important for anemia prevention programs. (C) 2004 the Institute for Cancer Prevention and Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Fed Univ Goias, Fac Nutr, BR-74605080 Goiania, Go, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Ecola Paulista Med, Grad Courses Nutr, BR-04020060 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Ecola Paulista Med, Coordinat Grad Courses Nutr, BR-04020060 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Ecola Paulista Med, Grad Courses Nutr, BR-04020060 São Paulo, BrazilUniversidade Federal de São Paulo, Ecola Paulista Med, Coordinat Grad Courses Nutr, BR-04020060 São Paulo, BrazilWeb of Scienc

Fatores de risco de anemia em lactentes matriculados em creches públicas ou filantrópicas de São Paulo Risk factors for anemia in infants enrolled in public or philanthropic day-care centers in São Paulo city, Brazil

OBJETIVO: Identificar e quantificar os fatores de risco de anemia em lactentes matriculados em creches públicas ou filantrópicas no município de São Paulo e discutir o impacto das ações da creche no controle desta carência nutricional específica. MÉTODO: Estudo seccional compreendendo 212 lactentes de duas creches públicas e três filantrópicas. Foram realizadas entrevistas com as mães, coleta de sangue por punção digital e antropometria. Considerou-se como anemia, hemoglobina inferior a 11g/dL. Foi ajustado um modelo de regressão logística para fatores de risco entre grupos de lactentes com e sem anemia. RESULTADOS: A prevalência de anemia foi de 51,9%. O modelo logístico final foi composto por 4 variáveis: presença de 1 ou mais irmãos menores que 5 anos (Odds Ratio=2,57; p=0,005); estar freqüentando creche de administração exclusivamente pública (Odds Ratio=2,12; p=0,020); uso de aleitamento materno exclusivo inferior a 2 meses (Odds Ratio=1,88; p=0,044), e idade inferior a 15 meses (Odds Ratio=2,32; p=0,006). CONCLUSÃO:Concluiu-se que a alta prevalência de anemia evidencia a ineficiência das creches estudadas para controlar e prevenir esta carência nutricional; portanto, cabe ao planejador de saúde considerar os riscos de anemia identificados e quantificados quando da elaboração de programas de controle e prevenção.<br>OBJECTIVE: To identify and quantify the risk factors for anemia in infants enrolled in public or philanthropic day care centers in São Paulo city and discuss the impact of the actions of day care centers in controlling this specific nutritional deficiency. METHODS: Cross-sectional study comprising 212 infants of two public and three philanthropic day care centers. Interviews with the mothers, collection of blood by digital puncture and anthropometry were performed. Anemia was characterized by hemoglobin levels below 11g/dL. A logistic regression model for risk factors between groups of infants with and without anemia was adjusted. RESULTS: The prevalence of anemia was 51.9%. The final logistic model comprised 4 variables: presence of one or more siblings under 5 years of age (Odds Ratio=2.57; p=0.005), attending day care centers that are managed exclusively by the government (Odds Ratio=2.12; p=0.020), less than 2 months of exclusive breastfeeding (Odds Ratio=1.88; p=0.044), age under 15 months (Odds Ratio=2.32; p=0.006). CONCLUSION: The high prevalence of anemia evidences the inefficiency of the studied day care centers in controlling and preventing this nutritional deficiency; therefore, it is up to the health planner to consider the identified and quantified risks for anemia when elaborating control and prevention programs