ABSTRACT
Background: Iron deficiency is prevailing lack of necessary nutrients globally and continues to be prevalent among vulnerable populations in Pakistan. The exact occurrence of anemia, ID, in addition iron deficiency anemia in Punjab, Pakistan, is not yet established.
Aim: The aim was to ascertain the frequency of anemia, inadequate iron reserves, iron deficiency, and iron lack anemia (IDA) among offspring enrolled in Superior Supplemental Nutrition Program for Females, Children, and Offspring. Additionally, it sought to evaluate usefulness of hemoglobin as a predictive indicator for ID.
Methods: This study employed a cross-sectional design and included a representative sample of children aged 1 to 3 years who were attending WIC clinics in the province of Punjab.
Results: The prevalence of anemia was 12.2% among children aged 1 to 3 years (hemoglobin less than 120 g/L for 1 to 3-year-olds or less than 111 g/L for 2 to 4-year-olds). Abnormal values for iron measures, determined through study and literature, were as follows: serum ferritin below 9.8 or 12.1 µg/L, serum transferrin receptor above 9.5 or 12.1 µg/mL, and transferrin saturation below 14.3% or 12.1%, respectively. The occurrence rates of low iron stores remained 25.9% and 27.1%, iron deficiency were 17.3% and 9.9%, and iron lack anemia were 4.5% and 4.3% based on cutoff values determined by research and literature, individually. On basis of receiver operating characteristic curves produced by study and literature, the amount of hemoglobin was utilized to forecast the presence of iron lack. The warmth of low hemoglobin in expecting iron deficiency, as recognized by the research and literature, was low (24.3% and 41.2%, respectively).
Conclusion:  Anemia and iron deficiency (ID) were widespread among the participants of the WIC program, but iron deficiency anemia (IDA) was not frequently observed. Low hemoglobin levels are not effective in predicting the occurrence of iron deficiency.
Keywords: Iron deficiency, Anemia, Iron Deficiency Anemia, Women, Infants, Punjab Pakistan.