Iron-deficiency anemia in children up to five years of age treated at the “Ramón López Peña” Polyclinic

Abstract

Background: iron deficiency is the most frequent specific micronutrient deficiency in the Cuban population. Anemia in children under five years of age is a health problem that is treated as a priority.

Objective: to describe the risk factors associated with iron-deficiency anemia present in children up to five years of age, treated during 2020 at the "Ramón López Peña" University Polyclinic of Santiago de Cuba.

Methods: a descriptive, retrospective study was carried out with children presenting iron-deficiency anemia during the year and in health district declared in the objective. The universe consisted of 28 children aged six months, as well as two and five years. The sample was made up of the 16 children diagnosed by childcare surveillance, belonging to the Family Doctor’s Office # 5 of the health district. The following variables were studied: age, intensity of anemia, and biological, social and cultural risk factors.

Results: half of the diagnosed children were six months old, most of them (75 %) with mild anemia, which was the type present in all children aged two and five years. Maternal anemia (75 %) was the predominant biological factor. Inadequate weaning and no consumption of nutritional supplements (both with 62,5 %) prevailed within the cultural risk factors. Low economic income (50 %) was the most frequent social risk factor.

Conclusions: the risk factors associated with iron-deficiency anemia present in these children were described, most of them with mild anemia and a history of maternal anemia.