Maternal education and risk of iron deficiency anemia in children under 5 years of age

Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common public health issue in young children, especially in low- and middle-income countries. There is growing evidence of the impact of maternal education on child health, nutrition and health seeking behaviour. Low maternal education can contribute to childhood IDA. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study was conducted at the Department of Pediatric Medicine, SKBZ, CMH, Muzaffarabad from 21-06-2024 to 30-06-2025, including 124 patients between the ages of 6-59 months. A proforma was used to record socioeconomic, demographic and clinical information. Education level of mother was classified as educated and non-educated. Anemia was measured from blood samples. Data were entered into SPSS version 27.0, and binary logistic regression was performed. Results: Among 124 children aged 6–59 months, 33.9% had iron deficiency anemia (IDA). IDA was significantly more common among children of mothers with no formal education than among those with educated mothers (51.4% vs. 27.0%; p=0.010). Cow’s milk consumption (45.3% vs. 21.7%; p=0.005) and malnutrition (45.5% vs. 24.6%; p=0.015) were also significantly associated with IDA. In the combined multivariable logistic regression model, maternal education (AOR=3.72, 95% CI: 1.53–9.06; p=0.004) and malnutrition (AOR=3.20, 95% CI: 1.40–7.33; p=0.006) remained independently associated with higher odds of IDA. Conclusion: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in children under 5 is strongly associated with maternal education and malnutrition. Education and nutrition of mothers may reduce IDA.