Situations of Anemia and Factors Related to Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children 6-12 Months at Well Baby Clinic Unit of Primary Care, Rayong Hospital

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of anemia in Health Area 6, in 2022, was 14.5%, Rayong Province 18.6%, and the network 17.0%. The conceptual framework comprises the determinants of health, which consist of parents, infants and the environment.

OBJECTIVES: To study the prevalence of anemia and the factors related to iron deficiency anemia in children 6-12 months at Well Baby Clinic, Rayong Hospital and to study the factors related to iron deficiency.

METHODS: This is a retrospective descriptive study aimed at assessing the prevalence of anemia using data from 364 subjects collected during October 1, 2021 to September 30, 2022 from mother and child registration records and health booklets as well as blood examination results for hemoglobin and hematocrit. Descriptive and statistical analyses, which are bivariable and multiple logistic regression presented as odds ratios (aOR), 95%CI and p-value, were used. The statistical significance value was defined as p<0.05.

RESULTS: The overall research results showed that 51.7% of the subjects were male and 48.3% were female. All were Thai nationality. The lowest gestation age was 26 weeks and the highest was 41 weeks, and 75.1% of the sample had standard birth weight ranging from 2,500–4,000 grams. The lowest birth weight was 800 grams, 92.2% had standard length, and iron deficiency anemia was found in 22.5%, which was higher in males than females. The factors related to iron deficiency anemia in infants aged 6 to 12 months with statistical significance are: mother with anemia history (aOR 3.121, 95%CI 1.639-5.945, p=0.001), father with anemia history (aOR 2.383, 95%CI 1.101-5.156, p=0.03), infants with substandard length (aOR 9.834, 95%CI 1.212-79.823, p=0.03), infants with length above standard (aOR 9.464, 95%CI 1.425-62.848, p=0.02), infants with breastfeeding alone compared to breast milk and formula milk (aOR 0.484, 95%CI 0.247-0.948, p=0.03). and infants with breastfeeding alone compared to formula milk alone (aOR 0.388, 95%CI 0.201-0.746, p=0.005). Gender, birth weight, weight per age criteria, and environment were found to be unrelated to iron deficiency anemia in infants aged 6 to 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS: The determinants of mother or father with anemia history, infants with length under or above standard, and infants with breastfeeding alone are related to iron deficiency anemia in infants aged 6 to 12 months; therefore, an in-depth root cause analysis should be performed. Couples must have a health check before pregnancy starting with antenatal care before 12 weeks of gestation. The health checkup for spouses who want to have a baby will help to screen the anemia condition of parents prior to pregnancy. Attention should be paid to the newborns with a length less than or higher than the standard, and infants with anemia who receive breastfeeding alone should be taken to a physician for diagnosis for a better quality of life later.