Risk factors for treatment failure of iron deficiency anemia in children under 5 years of age

Abstract

Objective: To determine the risk factors associated with treatment failure of iron deficiency anemia in children under 5 years at the Pueblo Joven Señor de Luren Health Center, 2023. Methodology: Analytical, retrospective case-control study (1:1) with 110 medical records of children aged 6 months to 5 years. Treatment failure was defined as hemoglobin <11 g/dL after 6 months. Nutritional, perinatal, feeding, and maternal risk factors were evaluated. Results: Significant factors identified included: acute malnutrition (OR = 4.58; p = 0.001), prematurity (OR = 3.75; p = 0.013), low birth weight (OR = 2.41; p = 0.049), non-exclusive breastfeeding before 6 months (OR = 3.59; p = 0.002), teenage mother (OR = 6.20; p = 0.001), low maternal education (OR = 5.23; p = 0.003), and maternal anemia during pregnancy (OR = 3.95; p = 0.001). No significant associations were found with intestinal parasitosis, diarrheal disease, iron dosage, child's sex, or age. Conclusions: The main identified risk factors suggest the need to improve child nutritional status and maternal conditions to enhance treatment effectiveness.