Nutritional Pattern among Primary School Children with Iron Deficiency Anemia

doi:10.21608/tnhcj.2021.247529

Nutritional Pattern among Primary School Children with Iron Deficiency Anemia

Document Type : Original Article

10.21608/tnhcj.2021.247529

Abstract

Background: - anemia in school-age children is an important public health problem; it reduces physical
work capacity and cognitive function and adversely affects learning and scholastic performance. Aim: The
study aimed to determine the nutritional pattern among primary school children with Iron deficiency
anemia. Design: descriptive study design was used. Setting: the study was conducted at Ismailia
outpatient clinics of health insurance. Sample: the school children attended with their parents to pervious
setting through 6 months with inclusive criteria. Tools: three tools were used, 1sttool: interviewing
questionnaire which included 5parts, 2ndtool was medical record analysis, 3rd tool was anthropometric
measurement. Results: the study revealed that 53.9 % of the studied parents had poor total knowledge&
30.4% of them had average total knowledge about iron deficiency anemia while only 19.2% had good
total knowledge regarding an appropriate diet for primary school children. The study revealed that 76.5%of
studied students did not have breakfast before going to school 52.2%and 73.9% of them take a soft drink,
and pastimes between meals. There was a positive relation between total reported practices of parents about
caring of children and their level of education p<0.05 and there was a positive relation between parents'
total knowledge and their reported practices regarding care for their children at p<0.01.Conclusion:
nutrition pattern, parent's knowledge, and practices mainly related to the health of children with iron deficiency
anemia. Recommendations: A program should be implemented especially by the Ministry of Health, the
Ministry of Education, targeting both children and their parents through different public media approach
focus on the nutritional pattern and behavior needs of this group

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