Study objective: Prevalence of iron deficiency anemia in children aged 6-24 months and 6-12 years in eastern provinces of Cuba was estimated by a cross-sectional study carried out in the second semester of 2002. Desing: The sample included 1708 children. Hemoglobin concentration was determined by cyanomethemoglobin method, serum ferritin by enzymoimmunoassay and serum retinol by Bessey ultraviolet inactivation spectrophotometric method. Results: Prevalence of anemia in children aged 6-24 months was 29,1%. Anemia was more frequent in children 6-12 months of age. According to serum ferritin values, iron deficiency was 38,6%. Prevalence of anemia was 14,6% for children 6-12 years of age. Serum vitamin A values were not associated to anemia in children 6 to 12 years of age. Intake of foods rich in heme iron was infrequent; conversely, intake of non heme iron was much higher. Prevalence of anemia in children 6-24 months of age was lower in this study in comparison with the result found in a nation-wide representative sample in 1999. Conclusions: In order to combat iron deficiency it is necessary to increase the fortification of foods targeted to these age groups as well as implement nutrition education, food diversification and other actions aimed at improving iron dietary patterns, all of them included in the National Program for the Prevention and Control of Anemia and Iron Deficiency in Cuba.