Anemia and iron deficiency in school children, adolescents, and adults: a community-based study in rural Amazonia.

We investigated the prevalence and risk factors of anemia and iron deficiency in 389 [corrected] rural Amazonians aged 5-90 years in Acre, Brazil. Anemia and iron deficiency were diagnosed in 16% and 19% of the population, respectively. Anemia was likely to have multiple causes; although nearly half of anemic school children and women had altered iron status indicators, only 19.7% of overall anemia was attributable to iron deficiency. Geo-helminth infection and a recent malaria episode were additional factors affecting iron status indicators in this population.