[Integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) for iron deficiency in children].

OBJECTIVE Evaluating implementing the integrated management of childhood illness (IMCI) strategy in the prevention, detection and treatment of iron deficiency in children aged less than 5 who were treated at ASSBASALUD's Clinica La Asunción in Manizales, Colombia, during 2007. METHODS This was a cross-sectional study of 310 children aged 6 to 71 months who attended the first-level Clinica La Asunción in Manizales. Iron deficiency prevalence was evaluated in the children, as was IMCI implementation for prevention, diagnosis and treatment by health professionals responsible for child-care at that centre. RESULTS Most children were aged less than 24 months, came within category 2 in the Identification and Classification System for Potential Beneficiaries for Social Programmes (SISBEN) and had been treated by Growth and Development section nurses. Children suffering from iron deficiency without anaemia accounted for most of those affected by iron deficiency. In half the population suffering anaemia this was due to iron deficiency; anaemia prevalence was higher than other types of infection-associated anaemia. For every child suffering iron deficiency-related anaemia, almost three had iron deficiency. Only six people accompanying the children being studied said that they had received indications for the dietary prevention of anaemia and this was wrong in half of the cases. CONCLUSION These results showed that when caring for children aged less than five, prevention, diagnosis and treatment of iron deficiency anaemia did not follow the guidelines provided by the IMCI strategy.