Consumo de hierro, algunos factores de riesgo asociados con la ingesta y planificación de una estrategia alimentaria nutricional en escolares de la zona de San Eduardo.

Abstract

Introduction: Iron deficiency is the most frequent nutritional deficit worldwide, affecting both industrialized and developing countries, which constitutes a public health problem. Objective: To determine iron consumption, some associated risk factors and planning a nutrition education strategy in school-age children in the San Eduardo area. Materials and methods: This were a descriptive, cross-sectional and not experimental study, it was carried out in 52 school - age children in the San Eduardo area between April and August 2020. The information was collected through the food frequency questionnaire and with a parent’s interview, in addition the data were related with the observation method. The studied variables were: iron consumption and associated factors, in addition, the data were related to the observation method, Microsoft Excel was used for data analysis. and a Pearson´s chi-squared test was used for the relationship between variables. Results: In this study was found that 61% of the school population of San Eduardo shows a low intake regarding to the group of foods that contain the highest amount of iron. When comparing the knowledge that parents have within iron food sources and iron consumption, it can be proved that there are statistically significant differences between these two variables, since the value of P is <0.05. Therefore, those parents who are not aware of iron food sources, their children have an inadequate intake of it. Conclusions: Guidance is necessary through a nutrition education strategy to improve iron consumption in school – age children in San Eduardo.