Background: ID is a common nutritional deficiency.
Methods: 410 infants, aged 9-15 months, were randomly selected from 2400 infants born between 2005-2010. Demographic characteristics, feeding habits and details regarding ID prevention therapy were taken. Hemoglobin (Hb) <11 g/dL, ferritin <12 µg/L and MCV <70 fL were the criteria for establishing IDA, and ferritin<12 µg/L and MCV <70 fL for establishing ID.
Results: Of the 410 infants, 116 (28%) had Hb <11 g/dL, and 68 (17%) had MCV <70 fL. From samples of 368 infants for ferritin: 27 (7%) had ferritin <12 µg/L and 60 (16%) had ferritin <15 µg/L. IDA was diagnosed in 15/368 infants (4%), rising to 21 (6%) when the cut-off point for ferritin was <15 µg/L. The IDA rate was (2.7%) (10/368 infants) when the criteria of three factors (Hb <11 g/dL and ferritin <12 µg/L, MCV <70 fL) were used. Infants who were breastfed >6 months were significantly less prone to have anemia (P > 0.002) and infants who received >6 months of iron supplements were also less prone to have anemia (P < 0.05). No significant gender-based differences in the Hb, RBC, HCT, MCV, MCH, MCHC, RDW or ferritin values were found and no difference in the prevalence of anemia when infants were matched for parental occupation, education and family income.
Conclusion: Studies are needed for establishing valid cut-off points for diagnosing ID and IDA and for identifying the causes of the high rate of anemia in the absence of ID.
