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

Author

Listed:
  • 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
    Medical Research Department, Centre de Formation Médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick, Moncton, NB E1A 7R1, Canada)

  • Zahra Abdollahi

    (General of Nutrition Department, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran 15655-415, Iran
    Authors contributed equally (listed in alphabetical order).)

  • Baseer Achakzai

    (Nutrition/Regulations, Ministry of Health, Islamabad 56000, Pakistan
    Authors contributed equally (listed in alphabetical order).)

  • Hassan Aguenaou

    (Joint Research Unit in Nutrition and Food, RDC-Nutrition AFRA/IAEA, Ibn Tofaïl University-CNESTEN, Rabat-Kénitra, Rabat-Kénitra 242, Morocco
    Authors contributed equally (listed in alphabetical order).)

  • Moussa Al-Halaika

    (Nutrition Department, Ministry of Health, Ramallah 4284, Palestine
    Authors contributed equally (listed in alphabetical order).)

  • Salima Almamary

    (Nutrition Department, Ministry of Health, Muscat 393, Oman
    Authors contributed equally (listed in alphabetical order).)

  • Rawhieh Barham

    (Nutrition Department, Ministry of Health, Amman 11118, Jordan
    Authors contributed equally (listed in alphabetical order).)

  • Ferima Coulibaly-Zerbo

    (Nutrition Team Lead WCO, World Health Organization (WHO), Sana’a 543, Yemen
    Authors contributed equally (listed in alphabetical order).)

  • Laila El Ammari

    (Nutrition Department, Ministry of Health, Rabat 335, Morocco
    Authors contributed equally (listed in alphabetical order).)

  • Jalila Elati

    (SURVEN (Nutrition Surveillance and Epidemiology in Tunisia) Research Laboratory, INNTA (National Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology), Tunis 1007, Tunisia
    Authors contributed equally (listed in alphabetical order).)

  • Noureen Aleem Nishtar

    (Nutrition Department, World Health Organization (WHO), Islamabad 1013, Pakistan
    Authors contributed equally (listed in alphabetical order).)

  • 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
    Authors contributed equally (listed in alphabetical order).)

  • Mohammad Qasem Shams

    (Nutrition Department, World Health Organization (WHO), Kabul, Jalalabad Road Pul-e-Charkhi Kabul, Afghanistan
    Authors contributed equally (listed in alphabetical order).)

  • Abdul Baseer Qureshi

    (Country Office, World Health Organization (WHO), Khartoum 2234, Sudan
    Authors contributed equally (listed in alphabetical order).)

  • Lara Nasreddine

    (Nutrition and Food Sciences Department, Faculty of Agriculture and Food Sciences, American University of Beirut, Beirut 11-0236, Lebanon)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • 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 Am, 2021. "Are Countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region on Track towards Meeting the World Health Assembly Target for Anemia? A Review of Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-26, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2449-:d:509120
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Jef L. Leroy & Marie Ruel & Ellen Verhofstadt, 2009. "The impact of conditional cash transfer programmes on child nutrition: a review of evidence using a programme theory framework," Journal of Development Effectiveness, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 1(2), pages 103-129, June.
    2. Abdulrahman O. Musaiger & Abdelmonem S. Hassan & Omar Obeid, 2011. "The Paradox of Nutrition-Related Diseases in the Arab Countries: The Need for Action," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(9), pages 1-35, September.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hala Mohsen & Yonna Sacre & Lara Hanna-Wakim & Maha Hoteit, 2022. "Nutrition and Food Literacy in the MENA Region: A Review to Inform Nutrition Research and Policy Makers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-25, August.

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