Iron content of drinking water is associated with anemia status among children in high ground water iron areas in Bangladesh

Objective

Iron in ground water provides a good source of absorbable iron for humans, and can contribute to optimal iron and hemoglobin (Hb) status among populations. We aimed to examine the relationship between the iron content of ground water and anemia status among 12‒23-month-old children in a rural area of Bangladesh.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted in 80 randomly selected unions (the lowest administrative unit) in Sylhet and Moulvibazar districts of Bangladesh. A total of 800 children aged 12-23 months were selected via a systematic random sampling method. The child’s age, sex, stunting status, consumption of iron-rich or iron-fortified food, maternal age and maternal body mass index (BMI) and the type of terrain were subjected to multiple logistic regression analysis to observe the independent relationships between ground water iron content and anemia in children.

Results

In total, 50.4% of children were anemic. The odds of children being anemic were 1.51-fold higher [OR: 1.51 (95% CI: 1.09, 2.09)] among households consuming water with an iron content <2 mg/L than in households consuming water with an iron content ≥2 mg/L. Childhood stunting, child’s sex, child’s age and the type of terrain were also significantly associated with anemia among children.

Conclusion

Ground water with a high iron concentration was significantly associated with a decreased risk of childhood anemia. This study provides evidence of the importance of ground water iron to protect impoverished young children from anemia.

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