Iron-fortified formula use in young children and association with socioeconomic factors in the French nationwide ELFE cohort

Abstract

Aim: To study the rate of iron-fortified infant formula (IFF) use in young children in France and its association with socioeconomic factors.

Methods: The ELFE national birth cohort included, in 2011, 18 329 living births in 349 hospitals randomly selected. The present analyses were restricted to children with follow-up at age two years. Milk consumption was evaluated by parental telephone interview, and its association with socioeconomic factors was studied.

Results: The 12 341 analysed children had a mean age of 26 months; 50% were girls. Rate of IFF use before two years old and at two years old was 65% and 43%, respectively. At age two years, use of IFF was lower with young age of the mother (adjusted OR [aOR] = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.3-0.5), low educational level (aOR = 0.7, 95% CI: 0.6-0.9), high parity (aOR = 0.3, 95% CI 0.2-0.4), and mother smoking (aOR = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.7-0.9) as well as low household income (aOR = 0.5, 95% CI: 0.4-0.7), and parents' unemployment (aOR = 0.7, 95% CI: 0.5-0.9).

Conclusion: In this national population-based study, the rate of implementation of the ID prevention strategy was much lower at two years old than before two years old, and significantly lower in disadvantaged populations.

Keywords: Population-based cohort study; Infant formula; Iron deficiency; Primary prevention; Socioeconomic factors.