Abstract

VASQUEZ-GARIBAY, Edgar Manuel et al. Prevalence of iron and iodine deficiency and parasitosis in children from Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico. Salud pública Méx [online]. 2002, vol.44, n.3, pp.195-200. ISSN 0036-3634.

Objective. To estimate the prevalence of iron deficiency, iodine deficiency and parasitosis in children attending the Instituto Alteño para el Desarrollo de Jalisco ((Highlands Institute for Development of Jalisco State, INADEJ), Arandas, Jalisco, Mexico. Material and Methods. A cross-sectional study was conducted between 1997 and 1999, among 432 children aged 12 to 120 months attending the INADEJ. Measurements included hematological values, urine iodine concentration, and presence of parasites. Student's t test chi square tests were used for parametric and non-parametric analysis. Results. The prevalence figures of anemia (20 vs 7.4%, p=0.007) and iron deficiency (60.9 vs 44.4%, p=0.02) were higher in preschool than in school children. Iodine deficiency was found in 29% (10.5% moderate or severe) and parasitosis in 47.2% of children, mainly E. histolytica (30.2%) and G. lamblia (28.9%). Low income, male gender and lack of social security policy holding were associated to parasitosis. Conclusions. The high prevalence rates of iron deficiency, iodine deficiency, and parasitosis, should be addressed by state health services with effective interventions to restrain these preventable diseases.

Keywords : children iron deficiency; Iodine deficiency; parasitosis; México.