@article{fdi:010072020,
  title = {{H}igh iron levels are associated with increased malaria risk in infants during the first year of life in {B}enin},
  author = {{M}oya-{A}lvarez, {V}. and {C}ottrell, {G}illes and {O}uedraogo, {S}. and {A}ccrombessi, {M}. and {M}assougbodgi, {A}. and {C}ot, {M}ichel},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he {W}orld {H}ealth {O}rganization ({WHO}) estimates that 40% of children in low-income countries are anemic. {T}herefore, iron supplements are recommended by {WHO} in areas with high anemia rates. {H}owever, some studies have set into question the benefits of iron supplementation in malaria-endemic regions. {I}n {B}enin, a west {A}frican country with high prevalence of anemia and malaria, no iron supplements are given systematically to infants so far despite the {WHO} recommendations. {I}n this context, we wanted to investigate the effect of iron levels during the first year of life on malarial risk in {B}enin considering complementary risk factors. {W}e followed 400 women and their offspring between {J}anuary 2010 and {J}une 2012 in {A}llada ({B}enin). {E}nvironmental, obstetric, and numerous clinical, maternal, and infant risk factors were considered. {I}n multilevel models, high iron levels were significantly associated with the risk of a positive blood smear (adjusted odds ratio = 2.90, {P} < 0.001) and {P}lasmodium falciparum parasitemia (beta estimate = 0.38, {P} < 0.001). {I}nfants with iron levels in the lowest quartile were less likely to have a positive blood smear ({P} < 0.001), and the risk increased with higher iron levels. {O}ur results appeal for additional evaluation of the effect of different doses of iron supplements on the infant health status, including malaria incidence. {T}hus, the health status of infants should be compared between cohorts where iron is given either for prevention or anemia treatment, to better understand the effect of iron supplements on infant health.},
  keywords = {{BENIN}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}merican {J}ournal of {T}ropical {M}edicine and {H}ygiene},
  volume = {97},
  numero = {2},
  pages = {497--503},
  ISSN = {0002-9637},
  year = {2017},
  DOI = {10.4269/ajtmh.16-0001},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010072020},
}