Are Countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region on Track towards Meeting the World Health Assembly Target for Anemia? A Review of Evidence

Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh, Mandy Taktouk, Radhouene Doggui, Zahra Abdollahi, Baseer Achakzai, Hassan Aguenaou, Moussa Al-Halaika, Salima Almamary, Rawhieh Barham, Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo, Laila El Ammari, Jalila Elati, Noureen Aleem Nishtar, Nasrin Omidvar, Mohammad Qasem Shams, Abdul Baseer Qureshi and Lara Nasreddine
Additional contact information
Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh: Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean (EMRO), World Health Organization (WHO), Cairo 7608, Egypt
Mandy Taktouk: Nutrition and Food Sciences Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 11-0236, Lebanon
Radhouene Doggui: Family Medicine Department, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QC J1K 2R1, Canada
Zahra Abdollahi: General of Nutrition Department, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran 15655-415, Iran
Baseer Achakzai: Nutrition/Regulations, Ministry of Health, Islamabad 56000, Pakistan
Hassan Aguenaou: Joint Research Unit in Nutrition and Food, RDC-Nutrition AFRA/IAEA, Ibn Tofaïl University-CNESTEN, Rabat-Kénitra, Rabat-Kénitra 242, Morocco
Moussa Al-Halaika: Nutrition Department, Ministry of Health, Ramallah 4284, Palestine
Salima Almamary: Nutrition Department, Ministry of Health, Muscat 393, Oman
Rawhieh Barham: Nutrition Department, Ministry of Health, Amman 11118, Jordan
Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo: Nutrition Team Lead WCO, World Health Organization (WHO), Sana’a 543, Yemen
Laila El Ammari: Nutrition Department, Ministry of Health, Rabat 335, Morocco
Jalila Elati: SURVEN (Nutrition Surveillance and Epidemiology in Tunisia) Research Laboratory, INNTA (National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology), Tunis 1007, Tunisia
Noureen Aleem Nishtar: Nutrition Department, World Health Organization (WHO), Islamabad 1013, Pakistan
Nasrin Omidvar: Community Nutrition Department, National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Faculty of Nutrition Sciences and Food Technology, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 19395-4741, Iran
Mohammad Qasem Shams: Nutrition Department, World Health Organization (WHO), Kabul, Jalalabad Road Pul-e-Charkhi Kabul, Afghanistan
Abdul Baseer Qureshi: Country Office, World Health Organization (WHO), Khartoum 2234, Sudan
Lara Nasreddine: Nutrition and Food Sciences Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 11-0236, Lebanon

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-26

Abstract: Anemia is a multifactorial condition, with a complex etiology that involves nutritional and non-nutritional factors. The misconception that iron deficiency is equivalent to anemia may mask the need to address other potential causative factors. This review paper aims to (1) assess the burden of anemia vs. iron deficiency anemia (IDA) amongst women of reproductive age (WRA), pregnant women (PW), and children under five years old (underfive children, U5C) in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR); (2) evaluate trends in anemia prevalence and whether countries are on track towards meeting the World Health Assembly (WHA) target for 2025; and (3) characterize anemia reduction efforts and provide a road map for future programs. A search of pertinent literature and databases was conducted. Anemia prevalence in the EMR ranged between 22.6% and 63% amongst PW, 27% and 69.6% amongst WRA, and 23.8% and 83.5% amongst U5C. Data showed that the EMR is not on course towards meeting the WHA target. The contribution of IDA to anemia was found to be less than half. Other potential contributors to anemia in the region were identified, including micronutrient deficiencies, parasitic infestations, and poor sanitation. A framework of action was proposed as a roadmap to meet the targets set by the WHA.

Keywords: iron deficiency anemia; underfive children; women; pregnant women; women of reproductive age; nutrition-specific interventions; non-nutritional causes; anemia targets (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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