Title: Maternal anemia: a preventable killer.

POPLINE Document Number: 314771

Corporate Author(s):

Academy for Educational Development [AED]. A2Z Micronutrient and Child Blindness Project
JHPIEGO. Access to Clinical and Community Maternal, Neonatal and Women’s Health Services Program [ACCESS]
Academy for Educational Development [AED]. Food and Nutrition Technical Assistance Project

Source citation:

Washington, D.C., AED, 2006 Aug. 4 p.

Abstract:

Iron deficiency is one of the most prevalent nutritional deficiencies in the world and is reported by the World Health Organization (WHO) to affect four to five billion people. WHO estimates that two billion people suffer from anemia. Approximately 50% of all anemia is estimated to be due to iron deficiency, a condition of deteriorating iron reserves in the body caused by low dietary intake of iron, poor absorption of dietary iron, or blood loss (for example, from hookworm, repeated childbirth or heavy menstruation) which leads to loss of iron. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most severe form of iron deficiency, and results when the body's iron supply cannot support production of hemoglobin in adequate amounts to maintain normal functioning of the body. Anemia from other causes (and therefore, not iron deficiency anemia), results from malaria or from genetic disorders, among other causes. Other micronutrient deficiencies (e.g., vitamins A, B6 and B12, riboflavin, and folic acid) are also knownto cause anemia (Figure 1). Anemia and iron deficiency remain at epidemic levels among women and children in many nations. Given the availability of proven interventions to prevent and treat anemia caused by a variety of determinants, the persistent high prevalence represent a lack of political will and failure of the public health sector. New estimates of the numbers of maternal and perinatal deaths associated with iron deficiency anemia underscore the urgent need to refocus resources and public health priorities to more effectively tackle the problem. (excerpt)

Keywords:

Developing Countries
Critique
Mothers
Pregnant Women
Anemia
Prevention and Control
Iron
Maternal Health
Infant Health
Risk Factors
Maternal Mortality
Interventions
Parents
Family Relationships
Family Characteristics
Family and Household
Sociocultural Factors
Population Characteristics
Demographic Factors
Population
Diseases
Metals
Vitamins and Minerals
Physiology
Biology
Health
Child Health
Mortality
Population Dynamics
Programs
Organization and Administration