OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the frequency of anemia according to family per capita income in children enrolled in a day care center in São Paulo, Brazil, in 2004. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 190 children aged 11 to 57 months divided into two groups of per capita income (<1 or > 1 minimum wage). Hemoglobin level was evaluated in capillary blood (finger-stick test) using a Hemocue® portable photometer. Anemia was considered when hemoglobin level was below 11g/dL. The results were analyzed using chi-square and Kruskal-Wallis tests. RESULTS: Anemia was found in 31.6% of the investigated children, with a higher proportion in younger children. The frequency of anemia was, respectively, 72.7%, 41.2%, 19.7% and 15.4% in children aged 11-23 months age, 24-35 months, 36-47 months, and 48-57 months. Among children of families with low per capita income, the frequency of anemia was 36.7%. In families earning more than one minimum wage per capita per month, there were 22.9% of children with anemia. CONCLUSIONS: At the day care center, the frequency of anemia was higher among children aged 11-23 months, especially when the family per capita income was less than one minimum wage per month.
anemia, child; per capita income
