Association between the occurence of iron-deficiency anemia with socioeconomic variables and school performance

Abstract

Study design: Cross-sectional observational. Objective: Evaluate the association between the occurence of iron-deficiency anemia with socioeconomic variables and school performance. Method: They were included in the study 124 children aged between six and eight years old, municipal elementary school students, which were divided in two groups according to the presence (n=32) or absence of anemia (n=92). Hemoglobin and serum iron levels were determined by colorimetric method, red blood cells count was performed using Neubauer chamber, hematocrit was evaluated using microhematocrit centrifuge, and mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular hemoglobin, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration hematimetric indexes were calculated. The school performance of children was provided by participating schools and socioeconomic variables were obtained by filling out the clinic file and the socioeconomic questionnaire of Brazilian Association of Research Companies by parents or guardians. Results: The prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia in school children was 25.8%, which is considered to be moderate. The proportion of better school grades was higher in children without anemia and in those belonging to the upper socioeconomic levels. However, it was not observed statistically differences between groups regarding school performance and socioeconomic variables. Conclusion: A moderate prevalence of iron-deficiency anemia was found in children aged between six and eight years old, however, it was not observed a significant association between irondeficiency anemia with socioeconomic variables and school performance.