OBJECTIVES: to identify the prevalence and factors associated with anemia in children of Karapotó ethnic backgrounds. METHODS: a cross-sectional study of hemoglobin dosage levels using a portable Hemocue photometer to collect measurements of weight and height along with socioeconomic data for 99 children between 6 and 59 months of age, all of Karapotó ethnicity. The association between the prevalence of anemia and variables related to children, mothers and families were analyzed, using chi-square tests or Fisher Exact Tests. RESULTS: the prevalence of anemia in the children was 57.6%, the prevalences of low height for age range, low weight-to-height ratios and low weight for age range in the children were 15.6%, 3.0% and 2.0% respectively. The occurrence of anemia was associated with younger children, those that spent less studying time with their mother, a large number of family members, those with fewer personal possessions and those that lived outside the group's home area or village ("desaldeados"). CONCLUSIONS: the results show that anemia is a serious health problem among Karapotó children, especially the "desaldeados", coinciding with problems of childhood obesity and stunted growth.
Anemia; Indians; south american; Nutritional status; Child
