A Rational for the Prevention of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children: A Public Health Intervention to Educate Mothers and Children in Hooper Bay, Alaska

A Rationale for the Prevention of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Children: A Public Health Intervention to Educate Mothers and Children in Hooper Bay, Alaska

Kaitlin Soto

WHAT IS IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA (IDA)?Anemia is a condition in which the body does not have enough healthy red blood cells. Iron helps make red blood cells. When your body does not have enough iron, it will make fewer red blood cells or red blood cells that are too small. This is called iron deficiency anemia.

http://www.lumen.luc.edu/lumen/meded/mech/cases/case7/scan86.jpghttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001610/-- U.S. Natl Library of Medicine

WHY IS IDA A HEALTH DISPARITY?The National Institute of Health states:IDA adversely affects cognitive development and behavior in infants and children and is the most common micronutrient deficiency among children worldwide.Infants and young children and women are the two groups at highest risk for iron-deficiency anemia.

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ida/

ADVERSE STATS INVOLVING IDA

Of the 24,586 U.S. childhood deaths in 2010, IDA plays a role in the top two leading causes of death.4In Kenya, the prevalence of IDA accounted for a shocking 50% of anemias in women and children.7The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also support this data with an even greater prevalence of IDA among children at 60%.5 In the United States, 20% of children in similar low income populations will also suffer from IDA within the first 6-23 months of life.6

WHERE IS IDA MOST PREVALENT?Although IDA is most prevalent in underdeveloped countries, it remains an issue for the US.US percentages w/ ID:Children age 1-2 years: 14% Females age 20-49 years: 9% Hooper Bay, Alaska percentages:35% of children and postpartum mothers suffer from IDA.9http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/anemia.htm

BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTORS IN HOOPER BAY, ALASKALimited contraception/^sexual activityImproper family careFood choicesNo doctor visitsAllowing abusive behaviorsDrinking/smoking/negligenceKeeping status in communityApathy to strive for moreHigher educationBetter quality of life

ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS IN HOOPER BAY, ALASKARemote locationGeneticsCultural normsIncomeReported income in this area in the year 2008 clocked in at $26,667, and has not improved much within the last 5 years. Consequently, 41.3% of the population lies below the poverty level10.

http://hooperbay.org/American Indian alone - 1,034 (94.6%)Two or more races - 37 (3.4%)White alone - 21 (1.9%)Other race alone - 1 (0.09%)

ENVIRONMENTAL RISK FACTORS/POTENTIAL MEDIATORS

For all graphs: http://hooperbay.org/http://flickriver.com/places/United+States/Alaska/Hooper+Bay/search/

ENVIRONMENTAL MEDIATORS IN HOOPER BAY, ALASKAHarsh climate/lack of jobsCommunity/social pressuresHigh cost of imported goodsDifficulty obtaining healthy foodsNo close medical careDoctors not in townPoor living conditionsDensely packed houseAbusive/addictive fathers

PERSONAL MEDIATORS IN HOOPER BAY, ALASKAIgnoranceOutlook on life:NegativeCommunity valuesStagnantFollowing traditionIndividual attitudesOne w/ communityComplacency in lifeToughness, unwieldy

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=alaska+strong&FORM=HDRSC2http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=alaska+tough&go=&qs=bs&form=QBIR#a

HEALTH EDUCATION AS A SOLUTIONIn order to attempt to resolve high prevalence of IDA in Hooper Bay, intervention is required.Intervention will include awareness, & nutritional education supplemented with self-sufficiency points.Focus on mothers and children

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=mother+feeding+child&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=mother+feeding+child&sc=0-0&sp=-1&sk=#ahttp://www.bing.com/images/search?q=nutrition+education&qs=n&form=QBIR&pq=nutrition+education&sc=0-0&sp=-1&sk=

MOST IMPORTANT BEHAVIOR CHANGEPositive attitude change on nutritionIncrease of iron sources (heme/non-heme) in conjunction w/ vitamin C

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=sources+of+vitamin+c+and+iron&go=&qs=bs&form=QBIR#a

References1. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001610/2. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/ida/3. http://www.lumen.luc.edu/lumen/meded/mech/cases/case7/scan86.jpg4. Murphy, Sherry L., Xu, Jiaquan, and Kochanek, Kenneth D. Deaths: final data for 2010. National Vital Statistics Reports; vol. 61, no. 4. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics.5. Desai MR, Terlouw DJ, Kwena AM, et al. Factors associated with hemoglobin concentrations in preschool children in Western Kenya: cross-sectional studies. (2005). Am J Trop Med Hyg vol. 72(1):4759.6. American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). (2010). "Evaluation of Anemia in Children." Available at http://www.aafp.org/afp/2010/0615/p1462.html#afp20100615p1462-b37 Accessibility verified October 27, 2013.7. World Health Organization/United Nations Children's Fund. (2004). Focusing on anaemia. Available at http://www.who.int/topics/anaemia/en/who_unicef-anaemiastatement.pdf. Accessibility verified September 14, 2013.8. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/anemia.htm9. Gessner, BD. Geographic and Racial Patterns of Anemia Prevalence among Low-Income Alaskan Children and Pregnant or Postpartum Women Limit Potential Etiologies. (2009). PubMed available at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19322058. Accessibility verified October 27, 2013.10. Wade Hampton Census Area: Hooper Bay Data. (2000-2011). Available at http://hooperbay.org/ Accessibility verified October 27, 2013.11. http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=sources+of+vitamin+c+and+iron&go=&qs=bs&form=QBIR#a