High prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in infants attending a well-baby clinic in northwestern Saudi Arabia

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in infants aged 6-24 months attending the well-baby clinic in primary health care centers (PHCCs). METHODS: This cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in the Northwestern region of Saudi Arabia from April 2013 to January 2014 in 5 randomly selected PHCCs. The sample size comprised 500 infants, with 100 infants screened from each PHC. Blood samples were obtained for estimation of hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels. RESULTS: Out of 500 infants, 246 (49%) cases had IDA with a mean age of 15.4 ± 6.5 months, with 130 (53%) males, and 116 (47%) females (p=0367). Out of 274 Saudi infants, 126 (51%) cases were diagnosed as IDA. CONCLUSION: Iron deficiency anemia is very common in Saudi infants aged 6-24 months. A national program directed for primary prevention and early discovery of IDA in Saudi infants is recommended at PHCCs system. Iron supplementation is to be given at early infancy with universal screening of hemoglobin and ferritin estimation to all infants at 12 months of age.