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Project Description:
Although the diet of Aboriginal Canadians living in Canada was once mainly meat-based, movement away from a traditional diet and
lifestyle to a diet based on western foods shipped in from the south with limited variety and high cost has resulted in infant
feeding practices that do not provide a good source of bioavailable iron. A cross-sectional design was used in 3 First Nations
and Inuit communities in northern Canada to determine the prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency in children 4-18 months old
and to systematically examine factors associated with iron/hematologic status.
Project Objectives:
To determine the prevalence of anemia and associated factors in children from Canadian Aboriginal communities.
Key Findings:
The prevalence of anemia was 36%; 53% had low iron status.
Evaporated/cow's milk consumption, H. Pylori infection and tea drinking were associated with anemia.
Meat and formula consumption were associated with adequate iron status.
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