Iron deficiency anaemia in children aged 9-24 months a rural area in South of Sri Lanka

Abstract

The prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia was examined in a group of 200 rural children, aged 9 to 24 months in the Galle district. Anaemia, defined as a haemoglobin concentration (Ob) less than 110 g/L, was present in 55 percent. Majority of the subjects (70 percent) had serum ferritin (SF) below normal. There was a correlation between the severity of anaemia and a stepwise decrease in serum iron, transferrin saturation and SF. The total iron intake of subjects was marginal; however, this did not show any association with the iron status in them. It is therefore, concluded that iron deficiency anaemia is a potentially serious consequence in children of weaning age and quality of weaning foods that are in practice have to be improved to maintain the iron balance.