Iron deficiency and anemia: disparity exists between children in American Samoa and children living within the US

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Healthy People 2010 emphasizes elimination of health disparity and improvements in anemia and iron deficiency (ID). The study purpose was to (1) determine the prevalence of anemia, ID and ID anemia (IDA) in children living in American Samoa and (2) compare the prevalence to that found in children living in the United States. Subjects/Methods: A total of 211 children from American Samoa, aged 1-5 years of age, participated in this cross-sectional study. Prevalence of anemia, ID and IDA were determined and comparison made using data obtained from children living in the United States. Anemia was diagnosed as hemoglobin (Hb) o110.0 g/l, ID as erythrocyte protoporphyrin (EP) 470 mmol/mol heme and IDA as Hb o110.0 g/l and EP 470 mmol/mol heme. Results: Anemia, ID and IDA prevalence was 33, 70 and 33%, respectively. The results of children from the United States were as follows: anemia, 9%; ID, 10% and IDA, 2%. Within American Samoan children, ID is positively associated with being breastfed o6 months (Po0.05) and anemia and IDA with lower household income (Po0.05; Po0.01). Mean Hb was significantly lower (Po0.001) and mean EP was significantly higher (Po0.001) than those within children living in the United States. Conclusion: To meet Healthy People 2010 goals in children aged 1-2 years, the prevalence of ID in children living in American Samoa would need to decrease from 83 to 5% and in children aged 3-5 years from 59 to 1%. It is critical to ensure that populations within the United States and its territories are provided appropriate resources to promote health and prevent disease.

Anaemia, iron deficiency, iron-deficiency anaemia and their associations with obesity among schoolchildren in Guangzhou, China

“…The prevalence of anaemia in the current study is generally consistent with most prior studies in China, while lower than that in some low-income countries. Studies in Nepal and Kazakhstan reported significantly higher anaemia prevalence than did the present study (40 and 27 %, respectively) (25,26) , while studies in the USA and Colombia found results similar to the present study (27,28) . The present study found a mild prevalence of ID (6•2 %), but a significantly low prevalence of IDA (0•6 %), which is consistent with US studies (27) .…”

Child, maternal and household-level correlates of nutritional status: a cross-sectional study among young Samoan children

“…In the Solomon Islands, 48 % of children aged 6–59 months are anaemic ( 28 ) , while more than half of children of the same age group are anaemic in Nauru ( 45 ) and Tuvalu ( 28 ) . In neighbouring American Samoa, the prevalence of anaemia is very similar in this age group: 33 % among those aged 1–4 years ( 46 ) . Also similar is the relationship between anaemia and age, with the odds of anaemia decreasing with age in both settings ( 46 ) .…”

“…In neighbouring American Samoa, the prevalence of anaemia is very similar in this age group: 33 % among those aged 1–4 years ( 46 ) . Also similar is the relationship between anaemia and age, with the odds of anaemia decreasing with age in both settings ( 46 ) . The odds of any anaemia were nearly 120 % higher among children with an anaemic mother compared with those without, as expected based on the strong evidence linking maternal and child nutritional status ( 47 ) .…”

Nutritional status of iron, vitamin B12, folate, retinol and anemia in children 1 to 11 years old. Results of the Ensanut 2012

“…25 In 2008, the prevalence of anemia and IDA in American preschoolers was 9% and 2%, respectively. 26 It was estimated that ID and IDA in infants and toddlers in USA has decreased in the latter years. 27 In Canadian children aged 3-5 y, the prevalence of ID (by ferritin) was 3.2% and anemia 2.2%.…”