The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of our hospitalized patients with the diagnosis of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and effects of the IDA prevention project of the Turkish Ministry of Health which was started in 2004. The recommended dose of prophylactic iron supplementation was 1-2？mg/kg/day. The files of 1519 patients who were hospitalized to Konya Education and Research Hospital Pediatrics Clinic were reviewed. A total of 50 patients consisting of 35 boys and 15 girls with the mean age of 16,59 ± 1,68 months were included into the study. The prevalence of IDA was 3.29% (boys: 4.23%, girls: 2.1%). Hgb and Hct of the patients >24 months were significantly higher than those of the patients with the age of 6–12 months. Iron supplementation receiving rates were very low. Of the 28 patients older than 12 months, only 44% of them had received a full course of iron supplementation for 8 months. In conclusion, although prophylactic iron supplementation lowered the prevalences of IDA, receiving rates of iron supplementation were not adequate. While IDA is still a public health problem, prophylactic approaches should be carried out more effectively. 1. Introduction Iron deficiency is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in the world [1]. It is the only nutrient deficiency which is also significantly prevalent in all industrialized nations. According to the data of the World Health Organisation (WHO), the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in industrialized countries and in nonindustrialized countries is 10–20% and 50–60%, respectively [2]. Globally, the prevalence of IDA in preschool-age children (0.00–4.99 years) and school-age children is 47.4% and 25.4%, respectively [3]. Iron deficiency impairs the cognitive development of children from infancy through adolescence. It also damages immune mechanisms and is associated with increased morbidity rates. The importance of iron deficiency and anaemia as a public health problem has been increasingly recognized by health authorities and policy makers. Although efforts are targeted primarily to prevent iron deficiency, it is still the most common nutrient deficiency all over the world [2]. The Turkish Ministry of Health started a project in 2004, which aimed to give 1-2？mg/kg daily prophylactic iron supplementation to all children aged 4 months until 1 year. In 2009, it was reported that after starting this project the prevalence of IDA had decreased [4]. In this paper we aimed to investigate the effects of the project after 8 years and characteristics of our
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