A community-based iron supplementation program, "Iron-Like Turkey", and the following prevalence of anemia among infants aged 12-23 months

• Published in: Turkish journal of pediatrics Vol. 55; no. 1; pp. 16 - 28
• Main Authors: Yalçın, S Songül, Tezel, Başak, Yurdakök, Kadriye, Pekcan, Gülden, Ozbaş, Sema, Köksal, Eda, Tunç, Bahattin, Sahinli, Selvi, Altunsu, A Tanju, Köse, M Rifat, Buzgan, Turan, Akdağ, Recep
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Turkey Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine 01.01.2013
• Subjects: Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - epidemiology; Anemia, Iron-Deficiency - prevention & control; Cross-Sectional Studies; Dietary Supplements; Health Promotion; Humans; Infant; Iron - administration & dosage; Prevalence; Turkey - epidemiology; Turkey
• ISSN: 0041-4301

During the second year of the "Iron-like Turkey" Project, in which all children aged 4-6 months in Turkey receive iron supplementation for 5 months, we aimed to assess the utilization of iron supplementation in the field, as well as the prevalence of anemia in healthy infants aged 12-23 months, while determining a variety of sociodemographic and nutritional factors for anemia in three of the 12 NUTS (Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics) regions (regions with the highest, lowest and middle under-5 malnutrition levels). In a community-based, cross-sectional survey using a multi-staged, weighted, cluster-selected sample, children aged 12-23 months with birthweight ≥2500 g, no chronic illness, no history of blood disease, and from term and singleton pregnancy were enrolled; 1589 children met the criteria. The mean±SD age of children surveyed was 17.8±3.6 months. Of the parents, 72.4% claimed that their physician had recommended iron supplementation, and 68.8% had given supplementation to their children. Overall prevalence of anemia was 7.3%. Multivariate analysis revealed that the frequency of anemia decreased significantly in older infants, when supplementation was recommended by health providers, when an infant was breastfed longer than 6 months, and when the mother received iron supplementation during pregnancy. However, anemia prevalence increased when the infant received iron supplementation at a later age (³9 months), lived in a crowded family (³6 persons), and when the mother had a history of iron deficiency anemia. Anemic infants had significantly lower z scores of weight for age than non-anemic ones. This survey suggests that iron supplementation during pregnancy, initiation of iron supplementation in infants at 4-6 months of age, effective counseling on supplementation, subsequent compliance, support of breastfeeding, and effective training of health care personnel are effective strategies for prevention of anemia in the community.