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...

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Main Authors: Eesha, KC Aggarwal, Sumita Saluja
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JCDR Research and Publications Private Limited 2022-02-01
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
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author Eesha
KC Aggarwal
Sumita Saluja
author_facet Eesha
KC Aggarwal
Sumita Saluja
author_sort Eesha
collection DOAJ
description 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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spelling doaj.art-1a5e4d9633384055bc0eb885f3c770252022-12-22T00:14:11ZengJCDR Research and Publications Private LimitedJournal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research2249-782X0973-709X2022-02-01162SC18SC2210.7860/JCDR/2022/51969.15999Iron Deficiency Anaemia among Exclusively Breastfed Term Infants of 4-6 Months Age and its Contributing Factors: A Cross-sectional StudyEesha0KC Aggarwal1Sumita Saluja2Resident Doctor, Department of Paediatrics, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.Ex Head and Professor, Department of Paediatrics, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.Professor, Department of Haematology, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.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.https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/15999/51969_CE[Ra1]_F(KR)_PF1(AG_SS)_PFA(AG_KM)_PN(KM).pdfdelayed cord clampingferritinhaemoglobiniron supplementationmicrocephalystunting
spellingShingle Eesha
KC Aggarwal
Sumita Saluja
Iron Deficiency Anaemia among Exclusively Breastfed Term Infants of 4-6 Months Age and its Contributing Factors: A Cross-sectional Study
Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research
delayed cord clamping
ferritin
haemoglobin
iron supplementation
microcephaly
stunting
title Iron Deficiency Anaemia among Exclusively Breastfed Term Infants of 4-6 Months Age and its Contributing Factors: A Cross-sectional Study
title_full Iron Deficiency Anaemia among Exclusively Breastfed Term Infants of 4-6 Months Age and its Contributing Factors: A Cross-sectional Study
title_fullStr Iron Deficiency Anaemia among Exclusively Breastfed Term Infants of 4-6 Months Age and its Contributing Factors: A Cross-sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Iron Deficiency Anaemia among Exclusively Breastfed Term Infants of 4-6 Months Age and its Contributing Factors: A Cross-sectional Study
title_short Iron Deficiency Anaemia among Exclusively Breastfed Term Infants of 4-6 Months Age and its Contributing Factors: A Cross-sectional Study
title_sort iron deficiency anaemia among exclusively breastfed term infants of 4 6 months age and its contributing factors a cross sectional study
topic delayed cord clamping
ferritin
haemoglobin
iron supplementation
microcephaly
stunting
url https://jcdr.net/articles/PDF/15999/51969_CE[Ra1]_F(KR)_PF1(AG_SS)_PFA(AG_KM)_PN(KM).pdf
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AT kcaggarwal irondeficiencyanaemiaamongexclusivelybreastfedterminfantsof46monthsageanditscontributingfactorsacrosssectionalstudy
AT sumitasaluja irondeficiencyanaemiaamongexclusivelybreastfedterminfantsof46monthsageanditscontributingfactorsacrosssectionalstudy