Background & Aims: Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in children. Iron supplements are recommended for controlling iron deficiency in infants in developing countries. The aim of this survey was to study the prevalence and related factors of non-consumption and irregular consumption of iron drop in infants aged 7-24 months in Urmia.

Materials & Methods: This cross-sectional study was done in all health centers of Urmia city in 2009. 400 questionnaires were completed by females whose babies were between 7-24 months old. The cases were selected by systematic random method. The data were analyzed by SPSS, Chi square test, Fisher exact test, and T-test. 

Results:  According to the results of this study, 14% of children did not consume iron drops, and among consumers %14.24 consumed regularly and %85.76 consume irregularly. Most important causes in non-consumers was child refusal, child vomiting (after use) and most important causes in irregular consume was parents' forgetting the medication or child refusal. We observed significant relationship between iron drop consumption and mother educational level (p<0.001).

Conclusion: The prevalence rate of irregular consumption in Urmia infants is in high level and the prevalence rate of none-consumption is in considerable level that most important causes are parental forget, child refusal to eat iron drop and child vomiting (after use).

SOURCE: URMIA MED J 2012: 23(1): 98 ISSN: 1027-3727