Anemia and iron deficiency in school children, adolescents, and adults: a community-based study in rural Amazonia

We investigated the prevalence and risk factors of anemia and iron deficiency in 398 rural Amazonians aged 5–90 years in Acre, Brazil. Anemia and iron deficiency were diagnosed in 16% and 19% of the population, respectively. Anemia was likely to have multiple causes; although nearly half of anemic school children and women had altered iron status indicators, only 19.7% of overall anemia was attributable to iron deficiency. Geo-helminth infection and a recent malaria episode were additional factors affecting iron status indicators in this population.