Iron deficiency risk factors in infants at one year: A cross-sectional study

Abstract

A cross-sectional study was performed to assess the relative importance of well-known risk factors for iron deficiency in one-year-old children and to detect new ones. Serum ferritin, erythrocyte protoporphyrin and haemoglobin were used as diagnostic tools to screen for iron deficiency. Epidemiologic analysis of data included measures of association, potential impact and a log-linear model to obtain adjusted measures. Socioeconomic variables show a strong association with iron deficiency (low income, odds ratio = 5.07, UCL = 16.08, LCL = 1.60; unemployed father, odds ratio = 4.16, UCL = 14.94, LCL = 1.16; emigration, odds ratio = 9.14, UCL = 54.56, LCL = 1.53). Some errors in feeding practices raise the risk of anaemia, especially the early consumption of cow milk (odds ratio = 21.0, UCL = 85.34, LCL = 5.16). This relationship is quantified and a cut-off point for the increased risk is determined at 500 ml per day (odds ratio = 14.56, UCL = 47.85, LCL = 4.44). Iron deficiency, although associated with poverty, is also related with very easily avoidable errors in the infant diet.