Iron Deficiency Anaemia among Exclusively Breastfed Term Infants of 4-6 Months Age and its Contributing Factors: A Cross-sectional Study
Introduction: The risk of Iron Deficiency (ID) is a major concern associated with exclusively breastfed infants of age 4-6 months. According to World Health Organisation (WHO) iron should be universally supplemented from six months onwards instead of four months as recommended by American Academ...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited
2022-02-01
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| Series: | Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/15999/51969_CE[Ra1]_F(KR)_PF1(AG_SS)_PFA(AG_KM)_PN(KM).pdf |
| Summary: | Introduction: The risk of Iron Deficiency (ID) is a major concern
associated with exclusively breastfed infants of age 4-6 months.
According to World Health Organisation (WHO) iron should be
universally supplemented from six months onwards instead
of four months as recommended by American Academy of
Paediatrics (AAP).
Aim: To determine ID and Iron Deficiency Anaemia (IDA) among
infants of age 4-6 months and relation of same to various socioeconomic and maternal parameters.
Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based, prospective,
cross-sectional study conducted in the Department of Paediatrics
of a tertiary care hospital in India. It included a sample population
of 200 exclusively breastfed term infants, of age 4-6 months.
Iron status was determined by studying the haemoglobin and
serum ferritin levels and their associations to demographic,
socio-economic and maternal parameters. Qualitative variables
were analysed using the Chi-square test/Fisher’s-exact test.
Univariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to find
out significant risk factors of ID and IDA.
Results: Age wise distribution of infants was 91 (45.5%), 62 (31%),
and 47 (23.5%) at 4, 5, and 6 months. Male-to-female ratio was
1.7:1. Mean±SD value of haemoglobin and serum ferritin was
10.82±0.60 g/dL and 44.60±25.02 μg/L, respectively. Prevalence
of ID was 11 (12.09%), 16 (25.81%), and 16 (34.04%) at ages 4,
5, and 6 months, respectively. On multivariate regression analysis,
age of mother <20 years (p-value 0.043), and increasing parity
(p-value 0.001) were associated with low iron status.
Conclusion: Almost one-third healthy term exclusively breastfed
infants become iron deficient by the age of six months. The
study supports the need for iron supplementation from the age
of four months universally instead of six months in exclusively
breastfed term infants. |
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| ISSN: | 2249-782X 0973-709X |