Intervention strategies to prevent anemia in children aged 6 months to 2 years: A systematic review; [Estrategias de intervención para prevenir la anemia en niños de 6 meses a dos años: Una revisión sistemática]

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood anemia poses a significant public health challenge, particularly among children aged 6 months to 2 years in low- and middle-income countries, with a high prevalence in Africa and Asia. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of various interventions designed to prevent anemia in children aged 6 months to 2 years, based on recent scientific evidence. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA 2020 guidelines, including studies published between January 2020 and June 2024. Inclusion criteria encompassed research published in indexed journals that examined iron supplementation, food fortification, and nutritional education interventions. The selected studies were required to employ robust methodologies and include representative samples of the pediatric population under study. Results: The included studies indicated that daily iron supplementation was more effective than weekly supplementation in improving hemoglobin levels. Moreover, interventions that combined food fortification with educational programs were more successful in reducing anemia compared to isolated approaches. Conclusions: The most effective strategies for preventing childhood anemia integrated iron supplementation and nutritional education, tailored to local conditions. The implementation of public health policies that promote these interventions is essential to improve nutritional status and reduce the prevalence of anemia in this vulnerable population. © 2024, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.