Prevalence and risk factors of iron deficiency anemia among under five year's old children attending pediatrics hospitals in Baghdad

Anemia [low hemoglobin concentration] is a late-stage indicator of iron deficiency and has serious negative consequences on health, mental development Iron deficiency anemia, remains one of the most severe and important nutritional deficiencies in the world today. Iron deficiency impairs the cognitive development of children from infancy through to adolescence. This cross-sectional study included 502 under 5 years old children attending 5 different pediatrics hospitals [Ibn Al baladi, Al Eskan, Al Aeloiyah, Al Kathomiyah and Al Mansur] in 3 health directorates [Rusafah, Kurkh and Medical city] from April to June 2009, History of anemia was determined, anthropometric measurements [Weight and height] of the children were recorded and laboratory tests were done for each child. The results show that wasting was [7.4%] and below the national average in Stunting [12.4%] and equal in underweight [9.0%] indicating that malnutrition is still a health problem in Baghdad, Three hundred and three [70.3%] out of [502] children participated in the study had anemia with a mean hemoglobin level of [9.4 gm/dL], a hundred and sixty six [33.1%] had Iron deficiency anemia, Mother's and Father's education have a statistical reliable association with Iron deficiency anemia with p-values = 0.031, 0.021 respectively, Age groups indicate an evidence of association with Iron deficiency anemia with a chi square [x[2] =13.38, df=4 and a p-value <0.05 [P=0.01]. Our definition of iron deficiency included having abnormal values for 2 of 3 tests [ZPP, TS, and SF], with high percentages of Anemia [70.3%] and IDA [33.1%] and with considerations paid to WHO categories of anemia as a public health problem; Anemia stills a ruthless health problem in Iraq that needs to pay a strict attention and multisectorial coordination

Effectiveness of zinc protoporphyrin and hemoglobin concentrations in identifying iron deficiency in a group of fewer than five-aged children

Iron deficiency anemia is known to impair cognitive and psychomotor development. Hemoglobin and zinc protoporphyrin [ZPP] tests are commonly used to screen for iron deficiency. However, little research has been done to systematically evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of these 2 tests. The aim of this study is evaluating the effectiveness of ZPP test in Identifying iron deficiency anemia in under five-year old children. These studies were approved by Nutrition Research Institute, Ministry of Health. The subjects, 195 children [62% males and 38% females], were seen in pediatric clinic during the period from April 2006 to April 2007. The children were all between 1 and 5 years of age. Iron status of the subjects was evaluated as a routine part of patient care at the clinic. Whole blood hemoglobin concentration, hematocrit ratio, and the ZPP/H [Heme] ratio were measured. The ZPP/H ratio was then evaluated as a single indicator of iron status. Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid-anticoagulant blood had been obtained used to perform the ZPP/H test. The mean Hemoglobin concentration for the study sample size [195] was [9.9 mg/dl] and Hb test was used as the reference test to compare the effectiveness of ZPP in detecting Iron deficiency anemia, with a sensitivity of [80.6%] and a specificity of [93.1%], positive predictive value [93.5%], negative predictive value [79.4%], the ZPP appears to be an excellent test in detecting anemia. ZPP/H ratio measurement alone can detect iron anemic deficiency better than other individual tests. Because the ZPP/H ratio is a functional indicator of long-term iron status, it is an attractive screen test for deficiency. The ZPP/H ratio is a cost-effective test that is performed using as little as one drop of capillary blood