The objective was to verify the occurrence of iron deficiency and associated factors in infants. This cross-sectional study included 365 infants (defined here as 6-24 months of age) treated at a primary care center in Belém, Pará, Brazil. Iron-deficiency anemia (hemoglobin < 11g/dl and ferritin < 12µg/l) was diagnosed in 55.1% of the sample, depletion of body iron reserves (hemoglobin < 11g/dl and ferritin < 12µg/l) in 15.3%, and iron sufficiency (hemoglobin < 11g/dl and ferritin < 12µg/l) in 18.1%. The results of the logistic regression model showed associations between iron deficiency (ferritin < 12µg/l) and: 6-12 month age group, OR (odds ratio) = 3.67 and 95% CI: 1.93-7.04; non-utilization of iron-fortified formula as the first milk used after interrupting breastfeeding, OR = 1.93 and 95%CI: 1.04-3.60; and per capita income ¾ 1 minimum wage, OR = 2.69 and 95%CI: 1.30-5.59. The occurrence of iron deficiency was high, showing the need to adopt effective measures to prevent this important public health problem.
Anemia; Iron Deficiency; Infant
