Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a significant global health issue, particularly affecting children and adolescents. The present study aims to review the existing research on the prevalence of IDA and iron deficiency (ID) in Iranian children and adolescents.
Materials and Methods: Online databases such as PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, EMBASE, CIVILICA, and the Google Scholar were searched for related reviews and systematic reviews up to February 2024. Two reviewers evaluated the quality of eligible studies and conducted the selection procedure.
Results: Five systematic reviews and two additional reviews, involving a total of 159 studies, were selected. The results indicated that the overall prevalence of ID and IDA among Iranian children and adolescents was 24.18% (ranging from 17.95% to 27.7%) and 16.73% (ranging from 10.6% to 21.4%), respectively. The prevalence of IDA was 7.9% (95% CI: 4.1–11.7) in males and 8.5% (95% CI: 6.1–10.8) in females under 18 years of age. In children under 6 years, the prevalence of ID and IDA was 27.7% and 18.2%, respectively. Notably, boys exhibited a higher prevalence of IDA at 17.7% compared to girls at 14.4%. Recent data highlights the differences in prevalence rates among genders, age groups, and geographical locations. Additionally, several factors contribute to the risk of developing IDA, including age (specifically in children under 2 years), family size (larger families), maternal factors (such as children born to anemic mothers or those with low birth weight), and dietary habits (notably a lack of iron-fortified milk consumption).
Conclusion: The overall prevalence of IDA varies widely among children and adolescents. By promoting awareness of dietary needs and implementing effective screening programs, healthcare providers can significantly reduce the incidence of IDA in younger populations.