Evaluation of iron prophylaxis in children aged 4-24 months

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Aim: The aim of this study is to assess the current status of the national iron supplementation program and the utilization of iron prophylaxis in the society, taking into account factors such as education, socioeconomic status, and the recommendations provided by healthcare professionals. Materials and Methods: A total of 540 patients Children aged 4-24 months admitted to the Pediatrics Outpatient Clinic were evaluated and a total of 540 patients were surveyed. The children were asked whether they used or not regular iron prophylaxis between 4 and 12 months. The data were analyzed using the SPSS 22 software package program Results: In our study, it was found that 50.8% of children did not use iron prophylaxis or used it irregularly. The most common side effects reported were constipation, diarrhea, and vomiting. Significantly higher rates of supplement use were observed among children with parents who had higher education and income levels. (Mother's education; p=0.026, father's education; p<0.001, income level; p=0.015) Conclusion: The fact that more than half of the participants in the study did not use iron supplementation or used it irregularly highlights the inadequate access to adequate iron prophylaxis for children. Healthcare professionals should allocate time to families and provide information about iron supplementation.