Decreased Anemia Prevalence Among Women and Childr

Authors: Molly A Moor Miguel A Fraga Richard S Garfein Judith Harbertson Alfonso RodriguezLainz Hooman H Rashidi John P Elder Stephanie K Brodine

Publish Date: 2016/02/08

Volume: 41, Issue: 4, Pages: 780-789

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Abstract

Anemia is a public health problem in Mexico This study sought to determine the prevalence and correlates of anemia among women and children residing in a rural farming region of Baja California Mexico An existing partnership between universities nongovernmental organizations and an underserved Mexican community was utilized to perform crosssectional data collection in 2004–2005 Wave 1 and in 2011–2012 Wave 2 among women 15–49 years and their children 6–59 months All participants completed a survey and underwent anemia testing Blood smears were obtained to identify etiology Nutrition education interventions and clinical health evaluations were offered between waves Participants included 201 women and 99 children in Wave 1 and 146 women and 77 children in Wave 2 Prevalence of anemia significantly decreased from 423 to 233  between Waves 1 and 2 in women p  0001 from 465 to 302  in children 24–59 months p = 0066 and from 714 to 458  in children 6–23 months p = 0061 Among women in Wave 1 consumption of iron absorption enhancing foods green vegetables and fruits high in vitamin C was protective against anemia p = 0043 Women in Wave 2 who ate ≥4 servings of green leafy vegetables per week were less likely to be anemic p = 0034 Microscopic examination of blood smears revealed microcytic hypochromic red blood cells in 90  of anemic children and 688  of anemic women consistent with iron deficiency anemia

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