Background:
Even though iron deficiency is known to be the leading cause of anemia in the United States, there has been relatively little emphasis on iron deficiency for the non-pregnant female. Iron deficiency remains a public health challenge despite its long-recognized negative impact on health and productivity.

Objectives:
To describe the personal characteristics, resources, health behavioral risk factors, and reproductive health risk factors correlates of iron deficiency in non-pregnant childbearing aged females.

Methods:
This cross-sectional study examined the correlates of iron deficiency among 2,942 non-pregnant women aged 18-49 years in a representative sample using the NHANES III (1988-94) National Data Set. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to assess factors associated with iron deficiency defined as serum ferritin< 12 µg/L.

Results:
Although a wide range of potential risk factors for iron deficiency were examined, only the attainment of less than a high school education was significantly predictive in the multivariate analysis (p<0.05). Health insurance access approached significance at p <0.08. Even though the overall prevalence of iron deficiency was 6.6%, disparities were notable among ethnic minorities, with iron deficiency rates of 7.7% for African Americans and 9.2 % for Mexican Americans. The unadjusted odds ratio for the relationship between iron deficiency and being Mexican American was statistically significant at p <0.05.

Conclusion and implications for practice:
Policy makers have established a national goal of reducing health disparities by 2010. One of the Healthy People 2010 Objectives is to reduce iron deficiency to 7% or less among reproductive age women. Perhaps a two pronged approach that begins to address iron deficiency among non-pregnant child-bearing aged women is most practical at this time. The first is a policy approach that elevates “iron deficiency” to a focal point for the federal agencies mandated to address minority health issues. The second approach should focus on those non-pregnant child-bearing women with health insurance coverage. Health care organizations should actively design appropriate interventions to address iron deficiency.