Non Dietary Factors Associated with Iron Deficiency Anemia among Infants Aged Six to Nine Months in Keiyo South Sub County Kenya

Infants have enough iron stores to last 4 to 6 months of age, which are thereafter replenished. The specific objectives of the study were to establish the prevalence of iron deficiency anemia and to determine factors associated with iron deficiency anemia among infants aged 6 to 9 months. A cross sectional study design was adopted in this survey. This study was conducted in three health facilities selected using a two stage cluster sampling procedure. The Systematic random sampling procedure was then used to select 244 mothers and their infants. Interview schedules and biochemical tests were used to generate data. The Hemo-control photochrometer was used to determine the levels of anemia and further peripheral blood smears were conducted to ascertain the type of nutritional anemia. The results indicated that the mean hemoglobin values were 11.3 0.84 g/dl. The infants who had anemia were 21.7 % and further all peripheral blood smears indicated iron deficiency anemia. Results indicated that the non dietary factors which were predictors of iron deficiency anemia in this study were; poor waste disposal (t=3.005; p=0.03), available fuel (t=-2.870; p=0.04), hygienic hand washing (t=-2.000, p=0.047). It was concluded that IDA was evident among infants and application of specific strategies to address respective causative factors towards prevention of anemia was recommended.