Association of iron deficiency anaemia in children of 1-2 years of age with low birth weight, recurrent diarrhoea or recurrent respiratory tract infection--a myth or fact?

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE To investigate for the presence or absence of any association between low birth weight, recurrent diarrhoea or recurrent acute respiratory infections with iron deficiency anaemia in Pakistani children aged 1-2 years. METHODOLOGY From July 1993 to July 1995 a case control study was conducted at the Community Health Centre (CHC). Fifty cases and 100 controls were included. Informed consent was taken from mothers for the blood tests of their children and a questionnaire was administered to them. Data obtained from the completed questionnaires was analyzed by chi-square and t-tests. RESULTS There was no statistically significant difference in low birth weight (p = 0.712), recurrent diarrhoea or respiratory infections between anaemic and non-anaemic children at 1-2 years age (OR of 1.71 and 1.48 respectively). CONCLUSION This study does not uphold the belief that low birth weight, recurrent diarrhoea or respiratory infections have a causal association with iron deficiency anaemia in 1-2 years children.