Prevalence of Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Infants Living in Rural Areas and the Factors that Influence it in the Pandemic COVID-19 Era

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is caused by inadequate intake of iron or impaired erythrocyte formation due to chronic blood loss. AIM: This study aimed to obtain data on the prevalence of iron deficiency and IDA in the pandemic COVID-19 era and to investigate the relationship of infant nutritional status, maternal education, maternal occupation, maternal parity, and family income with the prevalence of iron deficiency and IDA in infants 9-12 months at the Cempaka Banjarbaru Community Health Center. METHOD(S) A cross-sectional analytic descriptive approach was used with a consecutive sampling technique to conduct this study. The sample consisted of 50 infants between 9 and 12 months old that had completed blood count and peripheral blood smear at measles immunization in May-September 2020 at the Cempaka Banjarbaru Community Health Center. RESULT(S) The results showed that the prevalence of iron deficiency, IDA, and hemolytic anemia was 16%, 28%, and 22%, respectively. Meanwhile, the data analysis was conducted using Chi-square and Fisher's exact test. The results showed a significant relationship between family income factors and the prevalence of iron deficiency and IDA (p = 0.023). CONCLUSION(S) Infants at the age of 9-12 months need to have a complete blood count examination to detect an earlier iron deficiency and IDA. Copyright © 2022 Harapan Parlindungan Ringoringo, Imanuella Yessy Natalia, Roselina Panghiyangani, Edi Hartoyo, Rahmiati Lao.