Epidemiology and relevant factors of iron-deficiency anemia among children in plateau areas / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To investigate the epidemiology of iron-deficiency anemia among children aged 0-6 years in plateau area,and to provide a basis for the formulation of prevention and treatment measures for anemia.@*Methods@#A total of 1 512 children aged 0-6 years were randomly selected from 4 counties in plateau area by stratified and cluster sampling. Blood hemoglobin level was tested. Child dietary behaviors were collected from their parents.@*Results@#There were significant differences in the prevalence of children with different age, family location, education level of main dependants, occupation of main dependants and per capita income of family(χ2=12.83,39.48,27.05,44.26,32.45, P<0.05).No significant difference for anemia prevalence in gender and nationality was found. The prevalence of anemia among children aged 0-6 years was 67.0%, and the prevalence was highest among children aged 1 years while decreased with age.Univariate analysis of variance showed that the prevalence anemia was 74.0% in rural children, which was significantly higher than children in urban area 58.6%(χ2=39.48,P<0.05). Low education and income level of caregiver, husbandry in the family, no exclusive breastfeeding under 6 months, and picky eaters positively associated with high prevalence of anemia. The prevalence rate of anemia in 0-6 months old infants fed with mixed feeding and artificial feeding (73.1%, 75.0%) was higher than that of breast feeding (48.9%) (χ2=6.78, P<0.05). Picky eating can lead to a high incidence of anemia in children.@*Conclusion@#Promoting healthy diets and correcting unhealthy dietary pattern through nutrition education to parents might be effective ways to lower the prevalence of anemia among children in plateau areas.