Iron Deficiency Is Unacceptably High in Refugee Children from Burma

Autor: Maria E. Bovill, Adam Drewnowski, Wantanee Kongsomboon, Karen L. Geisler, Bettina Shell-Duncan, Carrie Cheney, Steven J. Hansch, Teresa M Kemmer
Rok vydání: 2003
Předmět:
Zdroj: The Journal of Nutrition. 133:4143-4149
ISSN: 0022-3166
DOI: 10.1093/jn/133.12.4143
Popis: Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) in refugees is reported to be among the major medical problems worldwide. Because food rations are typically inadequate in iron, long-term reliance is a key predictor of anemia among displaced people. Comprehensive nutritional assessments of refugee children from Burma have not previously been completed. Refugee children aged 6-59 mo were studied to determine 1) the prevalences of anemia, iron deficiency (ID) and IDA and 2) the factors associated with anemia and ID. Cluster sampling in three camps and convenience sampling in two additional camps were used. Hemoglobin (Hb) levels were measured and micro mol zinc protoporphyrin/mol heme were determined in 975 children. Logistic regression analyses (95% CI) determined predictors of anemia and ID. The prevalences of IDA, anemia and ID in these refugee children were 64.9, 72.0 and 85.4%, respectively. Predictors of anemia included young age (P < 0.001), food ration lasting
Databáze: OpenAIRE