Prevalence of iron deficiency and its related anemia in junior school students in Birjand

Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in the world and its related anemia is the most common hematological disease in children and adolescents. Since iron deficiency can produce anemia and learning difficulties in children in rapid- growing ages, awareness of its prevalence can affect on planning preventive measures. The present study aimed at determining iron deficiency prevalence, its related anemia, and some relevant factors in junior school students in Birjand in 2006. In this cross- sectional and descriptive study, 450 students from junior schools were selected by multi-stage random method. After the study was clarified, parents filled out their respective consent forms regarding their children and personal information of the students was recorded thus, height and weight of students were measured and body mass index (BMI) was calculated. CBC differential and serum ferritin were measured. Iron deficiency was defined as serum ferritin≤12μg/L and anemia was defined as Hb<12g/dL and iron deficiency anemia was defined as both (SF≤12, Hb<12).The obtained data were analysed by means of SPSS software and statistical tests (Chi-Square and Fisher) at the level of  =0.05. Prevalence of anemia was 3.6%, iron deficiency anemia 1.8% and iron deficiency was 24%. Prevalence of iron deficiency showed significant relationship to sex (female), menstruation, and increasing age. There was not a significant relationship between iron deficiency and its respective anemia to score, degree of birth, body mass index, age, job, and parents’ level of education. With regard to relatively high prevalence of iron deficiency and its health and socioeconomic complications, it is recommended that screening programs for iron deficiency will be done during the rapid- growing age of children so that they would be treated if necessary.