Iron Deficiency Anemia: a burden for world health

Abstract

Anemia is the world's second leading cause of disa bility and is responsible for about 1 million death s a year, of which three- quarters occur in Africa and South-east Asia. India is among the countries with highest prevalence of anemia and accounts for the largest number of anemic persons in the world. The magnitude of reduction in the prevalence of ane mia during nineties in India is lower than that in neighboring south and s outh East Asian countries. Strategy to prevent and correct iron deficiency anemia, must include measures to increase iron inta ke through various approaches, iron supplementation and improved health services and sanitation. We hope that this analysis will help health specialists and policymakers to f acilitate formulation of strategies to further reduce anemia burden.