Análise hierarquizada dos fatores associados à anemia em lactentes

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the prevalence of anemia and the associated factors in infants assisted in health units of Vitória da Conquista, Bahia, Northeast Brazil.Methods: Cross‑sectional study with a representative sample of 366 children aged 6 to 23 months. A questionnaire was applied to the caregiver, and the children’s anthropometric measurements and hemoglobin levels were collected. The associations were identified by Poisson regression with robust variances based on a hierarchical analysis model.Results: The prevalence of anemia was 26.8%, and the associated factors were: family income equal to or lower than one minimum wage (PR: 1.50; 95%CI 1.03–2.18), number of household members higher than five (PR: 1.50; 95%CI 1.07–2.11), use of unfiltered water (PR: 1.68; 95%CI 1.11–2.56), number of offspring higher than three (PR: 1.64; 95%CI 1.01–2.68), consumption of meat and/or viscera less than once/week (PR: 1.78; 95%CI 1.24–2.58) and age 6‑11 months (PR: 1.75; 95%CI 1.20–2.55).Conclusions: Anemia in the infants assessed is a moderate public health problem, which is associated with socioeconomic, demographic, and dietary factors; thus, measures are necessary for its prevention.