Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children and its Association with Dietary Patterns

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) continues to be a prominent nutritional disorder in children globally, especially in those aged under five years. This cross-sectional study simulated medical reality in a group of 110 children between 1 and 5 years of age to determine the prevalence of IDA and its correlation with dietary habits and other risk factors. Overall, the prevalence of iron deficiency was 7.1%, with IDA occurring in 1.1% of the sample, and with higher prevalence rates noted among children aged 1–2 years (2.7%) and according to Logistic regression revealed younger age, low birth weight, maternal anemia, less-than-usual consumption of iron-containing foods, and vitamin D deficiency as significant independent risk indicators of IDA Although the consumption of iron-fortified milk indicated a protective trend, its relationship to IDA was not statistically significant according to chi-square test results Although Hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels in children with and without IDA were significantly different, which agrees with diagnostic criteria however The findings are consistent with global epidemiological evidence and support the multifactorial etiology of IDA in early childhood, emphasizing the requirement for integrated nutritional measures involving iron supplementation, improvement in maternal health, and micronutrient provision. These results add to the improved understanding and management of pediatric IDA, with the potential to translate into public health action toward its prevention, reduction of its burden, and enhancement of child developmental outcomes.