Effect of consuming achira powder fortified with heme iron on the hemoglobin level of children under one year of age

Abstract

Introduction: Anemia is a disease characterized by a
decrease in the concentration of hemoglobin in the blood.
The highest prevalence in Peru occurs in children from 6 to
11 months of age.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of consuming achira porridge fortified with heme iron on the hemoglobin value of children aged 6 to 11 months, during six weeks of intervention.
Material and methods: Research with a quantitative approach, experimental design, quasi-experimental type. The sample was made up of 50 children aged 6 to 11 months, who received care at the Magdalena del Mar Health Center; during the period September to November 2023. The measurement of the hemoglobin level was carried out in the health center laboratory, before and after the intervention. The intervened children consumed 10 grams of powdered achira mixed with heme iron obtained from atomized bovine blood daily, with an iron intake of 11.2 mg/day, for six weeks of intervention. The hemoglobin level values before and after were transferred to a data collection form. For comparison, the non-parametric
Wilcoxon test was used.
Results: Before the intervention, 58% had mild anemia
and 42% had a normal diagnosis. The average hemoglobin
value was 11.38 + 0.93 g/dL. At the end of the intervention,
8% presented mild anemia and 92% normal. Likewise, the
average hemoglobin value was 11.79 + 0.7 g/dL. When comparing the hemoglobin value before and after, a p value <0.05 was obtained.
Conclusion: The results indicate that the consumption of
Achira porridge with heme iron has an effect on increasing the hemoglobin level in children from 6 to 11 months, during six weeks of intervention.