Onyangore, F.O.
University of Kabianga, Kenya
Title: Assessment of iron status among infants aged six to nine months at soy division Keiyo South Sub County
Biography
Biography: Onyangore, F.O.
Abstract
The increased prevalence of iron deficiency among infants aged 6 and 24 months can be attributed to the consumption of an iron deficient diet or a diet that interferes with iron absorption at the critical time of infancy. The objectives of the study were to determine iron status among infants, to determine dietary intake of complementary foods by the infants and to ascertain the complementary feeding in Keiyo South Sub County. The cross-sectional study design was adopted. The study was conducted at Soy division in Keiyo South Sub County at Biretwo, Cheptebo and Sego health facilities. Systematic sampling procedure was used to select 136 subjects. In the second year, 54 mothers were followed up due to loss of subjects. The 24 -hour recall generated data on dietary iron intake. Biochemical tests were carried out by use of the portable Hemo_Control Photochrometer device at the health facilities. Data was analyzed using SPSS computer software version 17, 2009.
Results showed that 28.7% of the infants had mild anemia whereas 23.5% had moderate anemia. The mean iron intake was 10.59 ± 1.71 mg/day. Most (94.1%) of the mothers were still breastfeeding but on the contrary, 45.6 % of all the mothers fed their infants on tea which is an iron inhibitor. None of the infants had received iron supplements. Policies for screening infants for iron deficiency during the first year of life should be developed as the iron deficiency anemia is a problem in Kenya.