Iron content of drinking water is associated with anaemia status among children in high groundwater iron areas in Bangladesh

Objective Iron in groundwater provides a good source of absorbable iron for humans and can contribute to optimal iron and haemoglobin (Hb) status among populations. We aimed to examine the relationship between the iron content of groundwater and anaemia status among 12‐ to 23‐month‐old children in a rural area of Bangladesh. Method A cross‐sectional study was conducted in 80 randomly selected unions (the lowest administrative unit) in Sylhet and Moulvibazar districts of Bangladesh. A total of 800 children aged 12–23 months were selected via a systematic random sampling method. The child's age, sex, stunting status, consumption of iron‐rich or iron‐fortified food, maternal age and maternal body mass index (BMI) and the type of terrain were subjected to multiple logistic regression analysis to observe the independent relationships between groundwater iron content and anaemia in children. Results In total, 50.4% of children were anaemic. The odds of children being anaemic were 1.51‐fold higher [OR: 1.51 (95% CI: 1.09, 2.09)] among households consuming water with an iron content