Iron deficiency among low income Canadian toddlers: a cross-sectional feasibility study in a Community Health Centre and non-Community Health Centre sites

Abstract

BackgroundIron deficiency in early childhood has been associated with poor developmental outcomes. Little is known about the nutritional health of young children receiving care at Canadian Community Health Centres (CHCs). Our objectives were to describe iron deficiency among toddlers at an Ontario CHC, to compare young children attending CHCs and non-CHCs, and assess the feasibility of conducting research on children in CHC settings.MethodsOne CHC, Kingston Community Health Centres (CHC) with two clinical sites and one community programming site was added to the nine non-CHC pediatric and primary care clinics in the existing TARGet Kids! research network. A cross-sectional feasibilitystudy was conducted.and. Healthy children, ages 12–36 months were Enrolled. iron deficiency without inflammation (ferritin< 14 μg/L and CRP < 10 mg/L) and serum ferritin were assessed. Adjusted multivariable regression analyses were used to evaluate an association between CHC enrolment and iron status.ResultsThe CHC cohort (n = 31) was older, had lower household income, lower maternal education, higher nutrition risk scores, higher cow’s milk intake, shorter breastfeeding duration and higher prevalence of unhealthy weights compared with the non-CHC cohort (n = 875). There was no association between CHC status and serum ferritin (difference in median serum ferritin 4.78 μg/L, 95% confidence interval [CI] -2.5, 14.3, p = 0.22) or iron deficiency (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.11, − 2.73, p = 0.46) using multivariable linear and logistic regression, respectively.ConclusionDespite differences in sociodemographic variables, we did not detect a difference in iron status between toddlers enrolled at CHCs compared to non-CHC settings. Further research is needed to understand the health effects of poverty generally, and iron deficiency specifically among children receiving care at CHCs.

Does socio-economic inequality exist in micro-nutrients supplementation among children aged 6–59 months in India? Evidence from National Family Health Survey 2005–06 and 2015–16

“…Interestingly, the children who did not receive VAS were not significantly associated with the wealth status of the household; however, children from rich households had lower odds for not receiving IS than children from a poor household. The finding was consistent with the previous one, which argued that iron deficiency was high among households with poor food security and low-income status [ 33 ].…”

Does Socio-economic Inequality Exist in Micro-nutrients Deficiency among Children Aged 6-59 Months in India? Evidence from National Family Health Survey 2005-06 and 2015-16

“…Interestingly VAD was not associated with wealth status of household; however, children from rich households had lower odds for ID than children from a poor household. The finding was consistent from the previous one, which argued that iron deficiency was high among households with poor food security and low-income status [23].…”

Prevalensi dan Faktor Risiko Anemia pada Anak di Negara Maju

“…Anemia zat besi berdampak pada gangguan fungsi neurokognitif dan intoleransi olahraga yaitu suatu kondisi dimana terjadi penurunan kemampuan untuk melakukan latihan fisik [7]. Anak-anak usia 6-36 bulan di Kanada yang menderita anemia defisiensi zat besi parah mengalami morbiditas yang substansial termasuk keterlambatan perkembangan, gagal jantung, trombosis serebral, dan takikardia supraventrikular sehingga membutuhkan perawatan intensif dan pemanfaatan layanan kesehatan yang substansial, termasuk rawat inap dan transfusi darah [11]. Oleh karena itu, mencegah perkembangan defisiensi besi sangat penting selama masa bayi dan anak usia dini ketika laju pertumbuhan dan perkembangan yang cepat, terutama otak, meningkatkan kerentanan terhadap gangguan yang disebabkan oleh anemia zat besi [7].…”

“…Berdasarkan tabel 1 dapat dilihat bahwa prevalensi anemia pada anak di beberapa negara maju di dunia masih cukup tinggi sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa anemia masih menjadi permasalah kesehatan pada anak di berbagai negara maju di dunia. Hasil penelitian dari beberapa artikel yang ditelaah didapatkan beberapa faktor risiko yang dapat mempengaruhi terjadinya anemia pada anak di negara maju antara lain adalah kekurangan serum zinc [6], rendahnya kadar 25 (OH) D [20,22], pemberian ASI eksklusif tanpa fortifikasi zat besi [7], [23], Berat Badan Lahir Rendah (BBLR) [26], faktor asupan makanan [5,11], serta pendidikan ibu [29].…”