Report from Wartakotalive.com reporter, Lilis Setyaningsih
TRIBUNNEWS.COM – Anemia, especially from deficiency iron, like a vicious circle that is difficult to break in Indonesia.
Deficiency iron it happened when they were teenagers, adults, married, pregnant, and then had another child.
Children are deficient iron again especially at puberty. And so on. Though lacks iron cannot be underestimated.
Deficiency iron especially in children it has short-term and long-term impacts, for example disturbances in cognitive, motor, sensory and behavioral and emotional development.
Especially when children enter school age, they are deprived iron will have an impact on a lack of concentration while studying, learning disabilities, and delayed development.
However, the rate of anemia in children under five is quite high. Basic Health Research data 2018 (Riskesdas) shows 1 in 3 Indonesian children under five have anemia. Other data shows, more than 40 percent of children under five in developing countries suffer from anemia and. 50-60 percent of anemia cases are caused by iron deficiency.
Also read: Anemia in Young Women is at Risk for Increasing Stunting
Prof. Dr. drg. Sandra Fikawati, MPH, maternal and child nutritionist, said, iron is one of the micronutrients or often known as vitamins and minerals which are very important to support children’s learning abilities.
“Millions of children experience stunted growth, cognitive delays, weak immunity and iron deficiency disease. In fact, preschool-aged children need good environmental support, especially balanced nutrition support, so parents must know their nutritional needs, how to fulfill them, as well as efforts to improve their nutrition, “said Prof.
If parents are not alert, the repercussions will be discovered when it is too late. Even though a child may appear full, it may be that their body is starving due to a lack of micronutrients.
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