The Turkish Journal of Pediatrics
2009 , Vol 51 , Num 6
Seasonal and gender differences in hemoglobin value in infants at 5-7 months of age
Unit of Social Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Ankara, Turkey
Our aims were to analyze the changes in hemoglobin (Hb) value according
to gestational age, birth weight, sex, birth season, and weight gain and to
detect distribution of Hb values among healthy infants, breastfed for at least
four months and receiving routine health care. We conducted a descriptive
study using the data of 469 healthy infants at 5-7 months of age in Hacettepe
University İhsan Doğramacı Children’s Hospital Well-Baby Clinic between
2001-2004. Infants with acute or chronic illness, exchange transfusion and
those who had taken or were currently taking iron supplementation were
not included into the study. Information regarding the child was obtained
from hospital files. Infants with Hb value <10.5 g/dl and <9.5 g/dl were
considered to have mild and moderate anemia, respectively. The mean Hb
value was 10.7 g/dl (SD = 0.90). The prevalence of anemia was 41.4%.
Boys had significantly lower Hb, hematocrit and mean corpuscular volume
values and higher red cell distribution width values than girls. Infants born
before 37 weeks of gestational age had moderate anemia more frequently.
Anemia at 5-7 months of age was more frequent in infants born in spring
and summer than in those born in fall and winter (49.2%, 26.8%, p<0.001).
Birth weight was positively correlated with Hb value at 5-7 months of age
(r=0.14, p=0.003). In the present study, female gender, at-term birth, birth
in winter and fall, weight appropriate for gestational age, and regular weight
gain showed the lowest risk for anemia development in infants aged 5-7
months with a breast-feeding period of more than four months.
Keywords :
hemoglobin, anemia, season, gender, infant.