ABSTRACT
Objective To know the prevalence rate of iron deficiency anemia and its effect on growth and development among infants under 6 months. Methods A total of 341 infants who were born from July 2011 to June 2012 were enrolled. The information of blood routine examination,growth index,feeding patterns was collected at age of 42 days and 6 months,respectively. Developmental screening test was conducted at age of 6 months. Results The prevalence rate of anemia at 42 days was 37. 54%,and there was no significant difference between males(40. 54%)and females(33. 97%) (P>0. 05). The prevalence rate of iron deficiency anemia at 6 months was 19. 35%,in which 48. 48% were new cases. At age of 42 days,there was no significant difference between different feeding patterns in anemia prevalence( breast feeding:30. 82%,mixed feeding:41. 40%,artificial feeding:47. 37%,P>0. 05). While at age of 6 months,the anemia prevalence of breast feeding group was higher( 38. 20%)than that of the other two groups( mixed feeding:16. 38%;artificial feeding:9. 56%;P<0. 05 ). The rate of developmental quotient below 70 was 11. 76% in the anemia cases whose hemoglobin was continuously low from 42 days to 6 months,which was higher than that of new onset anemia cases (3. 13%)and normal hemoglobin controls(1. 82%)(P<0. 05). Conclusion Continuously low hemoglobin at early age of 42 days to 6 months is potentially harmful to neuropsychological development of infants. Early screening of hemoglobin is urgently needed for intervention of iron deficiency anemia among infants.