Prevalence and influence factors of iron deficiency anemia among 6 – 23 months old children in Qiannan area of Guizhou province

  Objective  To examine the prevalence and risk factors of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) among 6 – 23 months old children in southern area of Guizhou province and to provide references for implementing corresponding interventions.

  Methods  A total of 19 498 children aged 6 – 23 months were selected using stratified multistage random cluster sampling in Qiannan prefecture of Guizhou province; then physical examination and laboratory tests were carried out among the children and a face-to-face questionnaire survey was conducted among major caregivers of the children simultaneously between February 2017 and January 2018．

  Results  Among all the children surveyed, totally 9 279 IDA cases were identified and the IDA prevalence rate was 47.59% and the standardized rate was 47.13%. Unconditional multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated following risk factors of IDA among the small children: aged 6 – 11 months (odds ratio OR = 3.765, 95% confidence interval 95% CI: 1.215 – 4.315), Maonan nationality (OR = 3.411, 95% CI: 1.635 – 4.095), Miao nationality(OR = 4.937, 95% CI : 1.867 – 6.123), birth weight < 3 Kg (OR = 3.407, 95% CI : 1.125 – 3.883), having a corn or maize-based dietary pattern (OR = 3.803, 95% CI : 1.356 – 4.935), supplemental feeding at the age of > 6 months (OR = 5.546, 95% CI : 1.867 – 6.978), never taking supplemental nutritional package (OR = 3.903, 95% CI : 1.341 – 3.916), with a mother engaged in farming (OR = 2.887, 95% CI : 1.224 – 3.987), maternal anemia (OR = 3.232, 95% CI : 1.139 – 4.084), with a major caregiver other than mother or father (OR = 3.179, 95% CI : 1.214 – 4.657), in a family with the annual income of < 5 000 RMB yuan per capita (OR = 5.796, 95% CI: 1.857 – 6.353), and residing in an area near a mountain (OR = 3.271, 95% CI: 1.215 – 3.792).

  Conclusion  The prevalence rate of iron deficiency anemia is relatively high among 6 – 23 months old children in southern area of Guizhou province and interventions on risk factors of iron deficiency anemia should be promoted among the children.