Prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in 6 months to 5 years old children in Fars, Southern Iran.

Background: Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common clinical problem throughout the world and an enormous public health risk in developing and even in industrialized countries. Traditionally, several methods other than serum ferritin were used to assess IDA. Our main objective was to obtain the prevalence of IDA by serum ferritin in 6 month to 5-year-old children in the province of Fars in southern Iran.

Material/methods: 5 cc blood of 583 randomly selected, 6 months to 5 years old children was collected. The serum ferritin, hemoglobin (Hb), Hematocrit (Hct), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentrate (MCHC), RBC counts and WBC counts were checked. A questionnaire was filled and the data analyzed.

Results: The mean value for SF was 23.6+/-14.3 ng/dl. 115 (19.7%) children had low serum ferritin (SF<12ng/dl). The low serum Hb showed statistical correlation with low serum ferritin (p<0.05).

Conclusions: The prevalence of IDA (19.7%) in our study was less than the prevalence reported in other developing countries (25+/-35%), (p<0.05). However, the prevalence was higher compared to industrialized countries (5+/-8%). This demonstrates that in southern Iran the nutritional status has improved, which is probably because of obligatory iron supplements given to the pregnant mothers and their under two year old infants, by the Health Care Centers, but we are still below the standards of WHO recommendations.