| Objective (s):To understand iron deficiency anemia (IDA) status, analyze its influencing factors among children aged 6-23 months in rural minority areas in Yunnan, provide scientific references for making formulating interventions.Methods:Using multi-stage stratified cluster sampling method, according to the distribution of poor population in Yunnan, region is divided into four types of areas, including mild poverty area, moderate poverty area, severe poverty area and poverty-stricken area. In accordance with the distribution of poor people and ethnic minorities, Jianchuan County, Yiliang County, Mojiang County and Lushui County were selected.In each county, at least 300 people are surveyed. Anthropometric measurements of children, hemoglobin, ferritin levels were tested. A caregiver questionnaire was also administered. Epidate3.0 software was used to establish a database and SPSS17.0 software for statistical analysis.Results:(1) Demographic characteristics and infant feeding:1226 children were surveyed, with 624 boys (50.9%) and 602 girls (49.1%). Children aged 6 to 11 month old were 392 (32.0%); children aged 12 to 17 month old were 407 (33.2%) and 18 to 23 month old were 427 (34.8%). Mother education was junior high school accounting for 47.3%. Mothers being farmers accounted for 83.3%. Infant caregivers were mothers, accounting for 79.8%. Family income in last year below 10,000 yuan accounted for 44.7%. Mothers with anemia during pregnancy were 191 as selves report, accounting for 16.4%. There were 1,218 infants with breast, accounting for 95.7%. Infants starting feeding breast milk within 24 hours after birth were 814, accounting for 74.7%; and 1,083 infants were colostrum feeding, accounting for 99.4%. Starting months of infants been fed milk, cereals, potatoes, beans and products, vegetables, fruits, meat and eggs were 8.28 ± 4.53 months,7.44 ±3.17 months,9.77 ± 3.79 months,9.52 ± 3.53 months,9.31 ± 3.51 months,8.93 ± 3.51 months,8.74 ± 3.51 months,7.84 ± 3.15 months, respectively. The dietary intake of vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, iron and zinc were 145.55 ± 248.29μg,30.53 ± 20.97mg,272.37 ± 173.41mg,5.93 ± 4.12mg,4.24 ± 2.15mg, respectively.(2) Prevalence of IDA of children:The overall prevalence of anemia among children was 47.2%, and IDA prevalence was 32.9%. The prevalence of IDA of boys and girls were 36.7%and 28.8%, respectively (x2= 7.552, P= 0.006). The IDA prevalence reduced as age grow (%2= 79.080, P= 0.000), with 42.0%in children aged 6 to 11 month old, and 41.9%in children aged 12 to 17 month old. Anemia prevalence was different in areas with different poverty levels (x2= 29.076, P= 0.000). The poverty-stricken area had the lowest prevalence of IDA (19.5%).(3) Correlates of IDA:Mother Occupation(χ2= 6.643, P= 0.010), the main caregiver (χ2= 10.364, P= 0.001), caregiver education (x2= 11.255, P= 0.010), annual household income (χ2= 11.408, P= 0.044), whether the child is weaned (x2= 35.176, P= 0.000), breast feeding of 4 months (χ2= 15.358, P= 0.000), breast feeding of 6 months (x2= 17.219, P= 0.000), whether the child had calcium supplements (x2= 5.094, P= 0.024), whether to add nutrition package (x2= 25.444, P = 0.000), whether getting knowledge from doctors (x2= 7.023, P= 0.0085) had correlations with IDA in infants. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that male children had the higher risk of IDA, the risk of IDA decreased with increasing age, lower income of family(OR= 1.109,95%CI= 1.018-1.209), no adding nutrition package for children(OR= 2.738,95%CI= 1.810-4.142) were positively associated with children IDA.Conclusions):IDA prevalence rates among 6-23 months children in rural minority areas in Yunnan are high. Poverty, poor accessibility of health care and no adding nutrition package for children are risk factors to IDA. The study suggests that parents’ nutrition knowledge and feeding guidance need to be strengthened, and it is necessary to give nutrition package to wider rural young children to reduce IDA during infancy and childhood in Yunnan. |
PDF Full Text Request