Prevalência de anemia por deficiência de ferro em crianças indígenas Teréna

Abstract

This study evaluated the prevalence of anaemia in indigenous children Teréna from zero to fifty nine months of age, living in three villages of the Indigenous Land in Buriti, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The Teréna are identified as members of the Arawak linguistic trunk, with a long history of contact with the surrounding society. Iron deficiency anaemia is currently one of the most serious nutritional problems worldwide in terms of prevalence, being determined, almost always, by deficient ingestion of food rich in iron food or by the inappropriate organic utilization. We studied 49 children, representing 61.3% of children under five years living in these communities. Data on socioeconomic and environmental conditions were obtained through semi-structured interviews with parents and guardians. Was collected venous blood, on parents lap, by the vacuum method, and is obtained by appointment with the children fasted for twelve hours. It was considered as reference value to plasma iron from 50 to 60 μg/dl and anaemia, blood hemoglobin results with less than 11 g/dl. The analysis according to socioeconomic and environmental aspects indicate family per capita monthly income below the average poverty line and poor sanitation conditions. The overall prevalence of anemia was 30.6%, being more prevalent (53.8%) in the age group from 6 to 24 months. The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in children Teréna was 34.4%. With respect to health care for children in Iron Supplementation Programme, it was observed inadequacy of the second program recommended by the Ministry of Health The consumption of foods rich in iron and vitamin C for children was below the proposed recommendations for the age group, increasing the risks for the installation of iron deficiency anaemia. The results indicate the need for interventions to reduce iron deficiency anaemia and health promotion with specific and appropriate action for this population.