Iron deficiency anemia in Alaska native children-Hooper Bay, Alaska, 1999.

During fall 1998, health-care providers in Hooper Bay, Alaska, reported that hemoglobin data from a local Head Start program indicated that 14 (31%) of the 45 children aged 2-4 years had anemia (hemoglobin <11.0 g/dL), with an overall mean hemoglobin of 11.2 g/dL (standard deviation [SD] ± 1.3 g/dL) (CDC, unpublished data, 1996-1997). This proportion was substantially higher than the estimated prevalence in the United States of 8% among children aged 1-5 year (1). Because the region's economy is heavily dependent on fishing and the region experienced a poor salmon run in 1998, the Alaska State Health Department was concerned that economic hardships could exacerbate the anemia problem. In January 1999, CDC and the Yukon-Kuskokwim Health Corporation assessed the prevalence of anemia among Hooper Bay children aged 1-5.9 years to determine factors contributing to anemia in this population, and to identify recommendations for potential interventions. The findings indicated that the estimated prevalence of anemia among these children was more than twice the U.S. average.