Effect of Iron-Fortified Drinking Water of Daycare Facilities on the Hemoglobin Status of Young Children

BACKGROUND: Anemia is the most prevalent nutrition problem in young children. One possible strategy to prevent anemia is affordable fortification of drinking water. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of iron-fortified drinking water of daycare facilities on the hemoglobin and anthropometric status of pre-school children. DESIGN: Hemoglobin (Hb) status, weight and height measurements were assessed in 160 pre-school children aged 6 to 59 m before and after 8 m consumption of iron- (12 mg/L) and vitamin C- (90 mg/L) fortified drinking water. RESULTS: Initially, 43.2% (69) of the children evaluated as being anemic decreased to 21% (37) at the end of study. At baseline, 42 (26.3%) children suffered from moderate anemia and 27 (16.9%) suffered severe anemia, but after iron fortification, total number of children suffering from moderate and severe anemia had decreased to 32 (20.7%) and 5 (3%), respectively. Weight-for-age (WAZ), height-for-age (HAZ) and weight-for-height (WHZ) Z-scores increased significantly from -0.84 +/- 1.03 to 0.06 +/- 1.10, -0.84 +/- 1.11 to 0.54 +/- 1.10 and -0.39 +/- 0.94 to -0.18 +/- 1.14, respectively (p < 0.05). Daycare personnel reported increased appetite and food consumption and decreased absenteeism during intervention. CONCLUSION: Daily consumption of iron-fortified drinking water in daycare facilities is an effective, simple and inexpensive means of reducing and controlling for moderate and severe anemia in pre-school children.