Iron Deficiency Anaemia Among Students of Two Primary Schools at Different Socioeconomic Conditions in Malatya, Turkey+

Abstract

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional disorder in the world. To determine the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) and associated social and nutritional factors, two primary school students from different socioeconomic status in Malatya province center, in Turkey, were evaluated by using hematocrit and peripheral blood smears. Total of 1633 students of two primary schools -Haniminciftligi and Gazi Primary Schools- were studied. Prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia was 4.2 % among the students of the urban school and 13.8 % among the students of the shunty town school (p<0.001). For the urban school students, there was a statistically significant difference among anaemia and age group, maternal education, health insurance and milk consumption. For the shunty town school students, only statistical significance was established between anaemia and age group. These students in the age group 11-18 years showed 2.74 times higher estimated risk of IDA compared to the ones 10 years of age or less. The estimated risk of IDA increased significantly with low levels of maternal education (O.R=2.99). Students with low family income had a 1.75 times greater risk of IDA than those with high family income. The wide-scale nutrition education should target mothers and young adolescents in shunty town and rural areas. These education programmes should focus on good eating habits. We suggest that an important factor for preventing and treating anaemia and other nutritional diseases is improving the socieconomic status. Key words: Iron deficiency anaemia, Children, Socioeconomic status, Nutrition, Primary school.

Keywords

• Iron deficiency anaemia, Children, Socioeconomic status, Nutrition, Primary school.

Malatya İl Merkezinde Farklı Sosyoekonomik Düzeydeki İki İlköğretim Okulunda Demir Eksikliği Anemisi Yaygınlığı

Öz

Demir eksikliği dünyadaki en yaygın beslenme bozukluğudur. Malatya kent merkezinin farklı sosyoekonomik koşullara sahip iki bölgesindeki ilköğretim okulu öğrencilerinde demir eksikliği anemisi (DEA) yaygınlığının ve ilişkili sosyal ve beslenme faktörlerinin saptanması amacıyla hematokrit ölçümü ve periferik kan yayması kullanılarak değerlendirme yapılmıştır. Çalışmaya, Gazi (GİO) ve Hanımınçiftliği İlköğretim Okulu'ndan (HÇİO) toplam 1633 öğrenci alınmıştır. DEA yaygınlığı GİO'da %4.2, HÇİO'da %13.8 bulunmuştur (p<0.001). GİO'da anemi yaygınlığı ile yaş grubu, annenin eğitim düzeyi, sağlık güvencesi durumu ve süt tüketimi arasında anlamlı farklılık varken, HÇİO'da yalnızca yaş grubu açısından farklılık saptanmıştır. 11-18 yaş grubundaki öğrenciler 10 yaş ve altında olanlara göre 2.74 kat daha yüksek DEA riski taşımaktadır. DEA riski annenin eğitim düzeyi düşüklüğü ile artmaktadır (OR=2.99). Aile geliri düşük olan öğrenciler yüksek gelirli olanlara göre 1.75 kat daha fazla DEA riski taşımaktadır. Hem kentsel hem de kırsal alanda anne ve genç ergenlere yönelik geniş kapsamlı beslenme eğitimi programlarına gereksinim vardır. Bu programlar sağlıklı beslenme alışkanlıkları geliştirmeye odaklanmalıdır. Anemi ve diğer beslenme bozukluklarının önlenmesi ve tedavisi için sosyoekonomik koşulların iyileştirilmesi en önemli etmenlerden biridir. Anahtar kelimeler: Demir eksikliği anemisi, Çocuk, Sosyoekonomik koşullar, Beslenme, İlkokul.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Demir eksikliği anemisi, Çocuk, Sosyoekonomik koşullar, Beslenme, İlkokul.

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