Prevalence and types of anemia in infancy, Egypt: cross-sectional study.

Background: Infant anemia has a significant impact on physical and cognitive development, not only in infancy but also throughout their life. Objective: The study aimed to estimate the prevalence, types, and risk factors of anemia in infancy. Patients and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 498 infants aged 6-23 months who attended five primary healthcare centers in Kafr-el Sheikh governorate, Egypt, for vaccination and follow-up. Results: The prevalence of anemia among the study infants was 44%, with the highest in those aged 6-12 months. Maternal anemia in pregnancy, low birth weight infant, and lack of adherence to iron supplementation were the significant risk factors for anemia. Conclusion: Infant anemia in Egypt resembles a complicated multifactorial severe health issue with a long-run burden. Health policy interventions such as early screening at 6 months old, more adherence to iron supplements for infants, maternal nutrition education, family planning, and birth spacing between siblings should be accessed to overcome and manage this health problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]