查看文章

Child abuse is regarded as a life-course social determinant of health problems. However, little is known about the nutritional status of physically abused children and their cumulative effect on child behavior. The present study aimed to examine the non-anemic iron deficiency status of abused children and the combined effect of physical abuse and non-anemic iron deficiency on child behavior in China.

This cross-sectional study comprised 314 children aged 11–14 (12.30 ± 0.57) years old from Jintan, China. Children self-reported their physical abuse experiences and behavior problems. Blood iron and hemoglobin concentrations were also measured.

Thirty-eight percent of children reported physical abuse experience, 17.5% had non-anemic iron deficiency, and the two risk factors co-occurred in 8.0% children. Physically abused children were more likely to be affected by non-anemic iron …