Psychosocial Correlates of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Early Childhood

Abstract

Of 144 children having iron deficiency anemia admitted in one year to the Children's Hospital of the District of Columbia, a group of 28 was selected for one year follow-up and matched with a control group of 28. Relative to children in the control group, those with iron deficiency anemia had more illnesses, more feeding difficulties, and more behavioral problems. They were less often breast-fed, remained on the bottle an excessively long time, drank excessive amounts of milk, and were more difficult to wean. There were fewer extranuclear family members in their households, and their mothers were full-time housewives more frequently. There is no evidence that anemia recurs with continuation of deviant feeding practices. The central core of the syndrome seems to be a lack of “psychological” availability of the mother to the child. The child then turns or returns to his milk bottle for the gratification that should come from relationship. The syndrome is one of the lower socioeconomic groups and is related to depression and apathy in the mothers of the children.