Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most prevalent micronutrient deficiency in the world. In school age children, IDA is particularly deleterious: anemic children are sleepy and pay less attention. As a consequence, anemia can lead to high absenteeism and lower school performance. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in a representative sample of 424 randomly selected first graders (ages 6 to 11 years) from public schools located in the Northern Public Health Region of Brasília. The study objectives were to: (a) determine the prevalence of anemia; (b) compare the results obtained in 2004 to those of a similar survey conducted in the same area in 1998. Hemoglobin (Hb) was determined in finger-prick blood samples using Hemocue®. Two cut-off points were used to classify anemia, both established by the WHO: Hb<11.5g/dL and Hb<12.0g/dL. The height/age, weight/age and weight/height indicators below -2.0 standard deviations from the NCHS reference were used to indicate growth retardation. Prevalence of anemia was 12.5% and 11.9% (Hb<11.5g/dL) and 26.9% and 21.5% (Hb<12.0g/dL) in 2004 and 1998 respectively. The prevalence of anemia increased between the surveys, but the difference was not significant. There was no statistically significant association between growth retardation and anemia. A high prevalence of anemia was observed, which justifies the implementation of public policies to fight the problem, such as the fortification of wheat and corn flours with iron, mandatory since 2004.
Anemia; Children; School Health; Cross-Sectional Studies
