All issues > Volume 52(2); 2009

Original Article

Korean J Pediatr. 2009;52(2):159-166. Published online February 15, 2009.

Weaning food practice in children with iron deficiency anemia

Joo Hee JH Chang¹, Woo Sik WS Cheong¹, Yong Hoon YH Jun¹, Soon Ki SK Kim¹, Hung Sik HS Kim², Sang Kyu SK Park³, Kyung Ha KH Ryu⁴, Eun Sun ES Yoo⁴, Chuhl Joo CJ Lyu⁵, Kun soo KS Lee⁶, Kwang Chul KC Lee⁷, Jae Young JY Lim⁸, Du Young DY Choi⁹, Byung Kyu BK Choe¹⁰, Eun Jin EJ Choi¹¹, Bong Soon BS Choi¹²

¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Inha University, Incheon, Korea
²Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Keimyong Univeristy
³Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Ulsan University
⁴Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Ewha University
⁵Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Yonsei University
⁶Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Kyungpook University
⁷Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Korea University
⁸Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Gyeongsang University
⁹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Wonkwang University
¹⁰Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Keimyong Univeristy
¹¹Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Daegu Catholic University
¹²Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Daegu Catholic University

Correspondence Soon Ki SK Kim ,Email: pedkim@inha.ac.kr

Abstract

Purpose
: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is one of the most common nutritional deficiencies in children on a weaning diet. We investigated weaning practices in infants and children, as well as their mothers' knowledge about weaning.
Methods
: We investigated 129 children with IDA and 166 without IDA (aged 6-36 months) who had visited 10 university hospitals between March 2006 and July 2007. We investigated the hematologic values of both groups. A questionnaire on weaning was answered by the mothers of these children.
Results
: The hematologic values in the IDA group showed a significant difference from those in the comparison group (P< 0.05). Children who were solely breastfed until 6 months of age were 85%, 34% (P<0.05), and weaning was started by 6.3, 6.4 months, respectively (P>0.05). Rice gruel, boiled rice, and fruit juice accounted for approximately 80% of the starting foods in both groups (P>0.05). Only 40% of the children in the IDA group had a balanced diet within a month, versus 38% in the comparison group. In response to questions about the necessity of iron-fortified foods for breast-fed infants, less than 50% of mothers in both groups answered correctly. In the IDA group, 42% showed serum ferritin less than 10 ng/mL, while 92% showed serum MCV less than 72 fL.
Conclusion
: In conclusion, collection of information on history should be thorough for feeding and selective examinations for IDA in high-risk groups. Considering the adaptation period, we suggest beginning children on a weaning diet at 45 months. In addition, we need to educate mothers on weaning practice, especially on the necessity of iron-fortified foods for breast-fed infants.

Keywords :Iron deficiency anemia, Weaning, Nutrition, Knowledge