Revista Brasileira de Epidemiologia (Jun 2007)
Anemia ferropriva em escolares da primeira série do ensino fundamental da rede pública de educação de uma região de Brasília, DF Iron deficiency anemia in first grade students from public schools in a region of Brasília, DF
Abstract
A anemia ferropriva é a deficiência de micronutriente mais prevalente no mundo. É particularmente deletéria em escolares, pois crianças anêmicas são sonolentas e prestam menos atenção. Como conseqüência, pode levar ao alto absenteísmo e baixo rendimento escolar. Realizou-se um estudo transversal com amostra probabilística de 424 alunos de 6 a 11 anos, da 1ª série do ensino fundamental de escolas públicas da Regional Norte de Saúde de Brasília. Os objetivos foram avaliar a prevalência de anemia e comparar o resultado obtido em 2004 com aquele de estudo similar realizado na mesma área em 1998. A hemoglobina (Hb) foi determinada em amostra de sangue digital, usando Hemocue®. Dois pontos de corte foram adotados para classificar anemia, ambos estabelecidos pela Organização Mundial da Saúde: HbIron 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.
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