Iron deficiency, folate and vitamin B12 in relation to anemia in children from public schools in Tegucigalpa and some associated epidemiological factors

Abstract

Objective: To determine the implication of anemia, caused by deficiency of iron, folates and B12 vitamin, on school children.

Methodology: It is a descriptive transversal study. The sample consisted of 450, first grade school children; cluster sampling distributed over 8 public schools at Tegucigalpa. Each child was identified by name, age, sex, school name, food intake, weight and height; the average age was 6.7 years old, 46.4% female and 53.6% males. Five ml of blood was drawn for each child. The automatized method ABX pentra 120 was used for hemoglobin and hematocrit measurement. The automatized Abbott, AXSYM enzyme immunoassay system, was used for serum determination of ferritin, B12 vitamin and folates. The World Health Organization's deficiencies criteria parameters were considered: Hb < 11.5 g/dl, ferritin < 15 ug/l, B12 vitamin < 203 pg/ml and folates < 4 ng/ml. The social-economic level was  determined by the Graffar modified method, the child growth indicator was classified according INCAP parameters. The food intake was evaluated through 24 hours follow up. Data were analyzed using EPI-INFO version 3.5.1

Results: The prevalence of anemia (hemoglobin < 11.5g/dl) was 8.9% (IC 95% = 6.5% to 12.1%. Results showed that 9.2% (IC al 95%: 6.8% a 12.3%) of the children were deficient on B vitamin; and 6.4% (IC al 95%: 4.42% a 9.2%) were deficient on ferritin, and 12 none was deficient on folates. One of 100 children were deficient on ferritin and on B12 vitamin; 5% were deficient only on ferritin and 8% were deficient only on B12  vitamin; and 14.3% of the school children had un type of deficiency, B12 vitamin or  ferritin. The average was: B vitamin 375.97 pg/ml (163.7± 1DE), folic acid 12.96 ng/ml (2.02 ± 1DE) and ferritin 34.73 ng/ml (17.55 ± 1DE).

The results showed a significant and direct relation between high concentration of ferritin and the consumption of cereal and beans. The high level of folates was related with the consumption of milk, cereals, fruits and vegetables. High levels of vitamin B12 were related with milk intake. Low economic level was related with low  levels of B12 vitamin, folates and ferritin.

Conclusions: The results of this study are important for decision makers at national level for developing effective nutritional control programmes. The anemia on school children it is an important public health problem that needs prevention and intervention.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5377/rct.v0i9.709

Revista Ciencia y Tecnología, No. 9, Diciembre 2011 pp.82-94