Prevalence of Anemia and Related Risk Factors Among 4-11 Months Age Infants in Eskisehir, Turkey

This aim of study was to determine the prevalence of anemia among infants from 4 to 11 months age and also to evaluate possible related risk factors with anemia. Hemoglobin level was determined by Hemocue hemoglobinometer in capillary blood samples. Anemia was diagnosed if hemoglobin (Hb) concentration was < 11.0 g dL-1. Study group was occurred 3039 healthy infants (51.4% boy) from 4 to 11 months age, visited primary care centers and accepted study from April 2004 to March 2005 in Eskisehir. The mean age was 6.85±2.57 months. An 81.1% of infants live in urban area and 18.8% of the study population had no health insurance. Prevalence of anemia was found in 40.3% in total study group; 42.2% for boys and 38.3% for girls (p< 0.05). The highest anemia prevalence was found at 6-7 months infants (46.8%). Prevalence of anemia was higher in for rural area than found in urban area (46.7 and 38.9%, p = 0.001) and also higher in children which have no insurance. In results of logistic model, to be boy, 6-7 months age group, living in rural area and had no insurance were important risk factors for anemia. These results suggest that production and application of preventive policies about risk factors for anemia by health policy makers.