Table 2.
Characteristics of young cohort ALSWH women in the study sample at survey three (baseline) and associations with self-reported diagnosed iron deficiency at survey five.
| Characteristic | No Iron Deficiency (n = 4599) | Diagnosis of Iron Deficiency (n = 766) | p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age in years | 27.6 (1.45) | 27.6 (1.45) | 0.271 |
| Mean (SD) | |||
| Individual Income (%) | |||
| <$37,000 annually | 56.2 | 59.1 | |
| >$37,000 annually | 43.8 | 40.9 | 0.144 |
| Highest education level (%) | 33.6 | 29.9 | |
| Year 10 or equivalent, trade/apprenticeship or diploma | 17.5 | 17.8 | |
| Year 12 or equivalent Bachelors or higher degree | 49.0 | 52.3 | 0.124 |
| Body Mass Index (kg/m2) | 24.6 (5.29) | 24.6 (5.58) | 0.787 |
| Mean (SD) | |||
| Haem iron intake (mg/day) | 1.38 (1.21) | 1.26 (1.15) | 0.0001 |
| Median (IQR) | |||
| Heavy menstruation (%) | |||
| Sometimes | 65.5 | 63.5 | |
| Often | 34.5 | 36.5 | 0.637 |
| Alcohol (drinks/week) | 0 (7) | 0 (6) | 0.0257 |
| Median (IQR) * | |||
| Smoking (cigarettes/week) | 0 (0) | 0 (0) | 0.4754 |
| Median (IQR) * | |||
| Type 2 diabetes (%) | 0.330 | 0.400 | 0.774 |
| Asthma (%) | 9.68 | 12.3 | 0.0260 |
| Hypertension (%) | 1.92 | 2.25 | 0.548 |
| Depression (%) | 11.2 | 12.5 | 0.319 |
SD, standard deviation; IQR, interquartile range. * Reported as whole units.