The Prevalence of Pica and the Associated Factors in Women with Iron Deficiency Anemia

Background and Ïron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in both developing and developed Çountries. Âmong its symptoms, pica is the most common and may appear in various forms even before anemia. Ït causes problems such as poisoning, intestinal problems, damage to the teeth, and parasitic fungal and bacterial infections, etc. The aim of this study was an epidemiological survey of pica disorder in women with iron deficiency and the associated factors. This was a cross-sectional study in which 260 women with iron deficiency anemia were enrolled during one year based on low hemoglobin, its percent saturation and low ferritin levels. Â questionnaire was employed to obtain information such as age, iron supplement use, family history, type of pica, etc. Âmong the participants, 177 patients (68.1 %) had one or more types of pica and 83 (31.9 %) had none. Moreover, forty four patients (17 %) had pica positive family history. The pica type, from high to low prevalence, consisted of ingesting sugary and starchy materials, ice, curd, plaster, soil, etc.Çonclusion: Çonsidering the diversity, relatively high prevalence, serious and dangerous complications caused by pica, early treatment of anemia and promotion of public awareness seems necessary.