Prevalence and risk factors for iron deficiency in Kelantanese pre-school children.

Introduction: To determine the prevalence of iron deficiency (ID) and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in Kelantanese pre-school children and to identify risk factors that best predict the presence of ID.

Methods: Children (aged eight to 26 months) who attended eight primary health clinics in the district of Kota Bharu, Kelantan, Malaysia, from September to November 1999, were invited to participate in the study. Parents were interviewed for potential risk factors of ID and blood was taken for the analysis of haemoglobin (HB), mean corpuscular volume and serum ferritin (SF) level after obtaining a verbal consent.