Table 4

Multivariable logistic regression model for the association between maternal ethnicity and iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia

VariableIron deficiency (ID)Iron deficiency Anaemia (IDA)
ß (95% CI)OR (95% CI)P valueß (95% CI)OR (95% CI)P value
Maternal ethnicity
 EuropeanReferentReferent
 East Asian−1.013 (−1.947 to −0.079)0.36 (0.14 to 0.92)0.03*−1.025 (−3.039 to 0.989)0.36 (0.05 to 2.69)0.32
 Southeast Asian−0.355 (−1.337 to 0.627)0.70 (0.26 to 1.87)0.48−0.658 (−2.708 to 1.392)0.52 (0.07 to 4.02)0.53
 South Asian0.518 (0.043 to 0.993)1.68 (1.04 to 2.70)0.03*0.190 (−0.661 to 1.040)1.21 (0.52 to 2.83)0.66
 West Asian/North African0.876 (0.031 to 1.722)2.40 (1.03 to 5.60)0.04*−0.707 (−2.817 to 1.404)0.49 (0.06 to 4.07)0.51
 African and Caribbean−0.515 (−1.397 to 0.367)0.60 (0.25 to 1.44)0.250.246 (−0.875 to 1.367)1.28 (0.42 to 3.92)0.67
 Latin American−0.244 (−1.100 to 0.612)0.78 (0.33 to 1.85)0.57−0.230 (−1.759 to 1.300)0.79 (0.17 to 3.67)0.77
 Indigenous0.502 (−1.885 to 2.890)1.65 (0.15 to 17.99)0.681.745 (−0.832 to 4.322)5.73 (0.44 to 75.37)0.18
 Mixed0.455 (−0.107 to 1.018)1.58 (0.90 to 2.77)0.110.757 (−0.084 to 1.597)2.13 (0.92 to 4.94)0.08
Child sex
 MaleReferentReferent
 Female−0.129 (−0.427 to 0.169)0.88 (0.65 to 1.18)0.40−0.216 (−0.737 to 0.305)0.81 (0.48 to 1.36)0.42
Child's age, months†
 12–150.215 (0.005 to 0.425)1.24 (1.01 to 1.53)0.04*0.274 (−0.057 to 0.605)1.31 (0.94 to 1.83)0.10
 15–18−0.078 (−0.257 to 0.101)0.92 (0.77 to 1.11)0.39−0.292 (−0.588 to 0.004)0.75 (0.56 to 1.00)0.05
 18–24−0.009 (−0.083 to 0.065)0.99 (0.92 to 1.07)0.81−0.003 (−0.135 to 0.129)1.00 (0.87 to 1.14)0.97
 24–38−0.111 (−0.158 to -0.066)0.89 (0.85 to 0.94)<0.0001*−0.206 (−0.344 to −0.068)0.81 (0.71 to 0.93)0.003*
CRP level, mg/L−0.387 (−0.597 to −0.177)0.68 (0.55 to 0.84)0.0003*−0.114 (−0.353 to 0.125)0.89 (0.70 to 1.13)0.35
zBMI0.126 (−0.020 to 0.271)1.13 (0.98 to 1.31)0.090.086 (−0.172 to 0.343)1.09 (0.84 to 1.41)0.51
Birth weight, kg
 ≥2.5ReferentReferent
 <2.50.266 (−0.222 to 0.754)1.31 (0.80 to 2.13)0.28−0.361 (−1.365 to 0.643)0.70 (0.26 to 1.90)0.48
Maternal education
 Post-SecondaryReferentReferent
 No post-secondary0.174 (−0.402 to 0.751)1.19 (0.67 to 2.12)0.551.204 (0.415 to 1.992)3.33 (1.51 to 7.33)0.003*
Family income (CAN $)
 $80 000+ReferentReferent
 $30 000–$79 999−0.305 (−0.763 to 0.152)0.74 (0.47 to 1.16)0.19−0.425 (−1.249 to 0.399)0.65 (0.29 to 1.49)0.31
 Less than $30 0000.647 (0.032 to 1.261)1.91 (1.03 to 3.53)0.04*0.552 (−0.368 to 1.471)1.74 (0.69 to 4.36)0.24
Breastfeeding Duration, months‡0.051 (0.025 to 0.076)1.05 (1.03 to 1.08)0.0001*0.057 (0.008 to 0.105)1.06 (1.01 to 1.11)0.02†
Bottle Use >15 months
 NoReferentReferent
 Yes0.099 (−0.280 to 0.478)1.10 (0.76 to 1.61)0.610.437 (−0.251 to 1.125)1.55 (0.78 to 3.08)0.21
Current infant formula use
 NoReferentReferent
 Yes−2.256 (−3.303 to −1.209)0.10 (0.04 to 0.30)<0.0001†−1.949 (−3.418 to −0.480)0.14 (0.03 to 0.62)0.009*
Cow's milk consumption
 Two cups (500 mL) or lessReferentReferent
 More than two cups (500 mL)0.474 (0.153 to 0.795)1.61 (1.17 to 2.21)0.004*−0.084 (−0.676 to 0.508)0.92 (0.51 to 1.66)0.78

  • All models adjusted for age, sex, zBMI, birth weight, maternal education, family income, CRP, breastfeeding duration (continuous variable), cow’s milk >2 cups, bottle use >15 months, infant formula use (Y/N).

  • *Statistically significant findings at p<0.05.

  • †Restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was used for child age.

  • ‡Breastfeeding duration was included in model as a continuous variable.

  • CRP, C reactive protein; zBMI, body mass index z score.