IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v18y2021i5p2449-d509120.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

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
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/5/2449/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/5/2449/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. 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.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    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.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Maria Gabriela Farfan Betran & Genoni,Maria Eugenia & Rubalcava,Luis & Teruel,Graciela M. & Thomas,Duncan, 2022. "Scaling Up Oportunidades and ItsImpact on Child Nutrition," Policy Research Working Paper Series 10088, The World Bank.
    2. Seth R. Gitter & James Manley & Vanya Slavchevska, 2010. "How Effective are Cash Transfer Programs at Improving Nutritional Status?," Working Papers 2010-18, Towson University, Department of Economics, revised Dec 2012.
    3. van den Bold, Mara & Quisumbing, Agnes R. & Gillespie, Stuart, 2013. "Women’s empowerment and nutrition: An evidence review:," IFPRI discussion papers 1294, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    4. Kronebusch, Natalie & Damon, Amy, 2019. "The impact of conditional cash transfers on nutrition outcomes: Experimental evidence from Mexico," Economics & Human Biology, Elsevier, vol. 33(C), pages 169-180.
    5. Simmons, Sally Sonia, 2023. "Strikes and gutters: biomarkers and anthropometric measures for predicting diagnosed diabetes mellitus in adults in low- and middle-income countries," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 120395, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    6. Seth R. Gitter & James Manley & Jill Bernstein & Paul Winters, 2022. "Do agricultural support and cash transfer programmes improve nutritional status?," Journal of International Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 34(1), pages 203-235, January.
    7. Amelie Bernzen & Ellen Mangnus & Franziska Sohns, 2022. "Diversify, produce or buy? An analysis of factors contributing to household dietary diversity among shrimp and non-shrimp farmers in coastal Bangladesh," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(3), pages 741-761, June.
    8. Sipei Xu & Jia Zhang, 2022. "Do Social Pensions Affect the Physical and Mental Health of Rural Children in China? An Intergenerational Care Perspective," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(7), pages 1-25, March.
    9. David K. Evans & Anna Popova, 2017. "Cash Transfers and Temptation Goods," Economic Development and Cultural Change, University of Chicago Press, vol. 65(2), pages 189-221.
    10. Ashutosh Kumar & Rahul Singh, 2023. "Job Guarantee as Tool for Women’s Empowerment: Propensity Score Matching Analysis," International Journal of Business and Management, Canadian Center of Science and Education, vol. 17(7), pages 1-7, February.
    11. Lentz, Erin C. & Barrett, Christopher B., 2013. "The economics and nutritional impacts of food assistance policies and programs," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 42(C), pages 151-163.
    12. Delaram Ghodsi & Nasrin Omidvar & Bahareh Nikooyeh & Roshanak Roustaee & Elham Shakibazadeh & Ayoub Al-Jawaldeh, 2021. "Effectiveness of Community Nutrition-Specific Interventions on Improving Malnutrition of Children under 5 Years of Age in the Eastern Mediterranean Region: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-22, July.
    13. Tagel Gebrehiwot & Carolina Castilla, 2018. "Do safety net transfers improve household diets and reduce undernutrition? Evidence from rural Ethiopia," Working Papers PMMA 2018-03, PEP-PMMA.
    14. Bhagowalia, Priya, 2020. "Impact of Conditional Cash Transfers on Health and Nutrition," MPRA Paper 97972, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    15. Kurdi, Sikandra, 2021. "The nutritional benefits of cash transfers in humanitarian crises: evidence from Yemen," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 148(C).
    16. Kim, Sunny S. & Habicht, Jean-Pierre & Menon, Purnima & Stoltzfus, Rebecca J., 2011. "How do programs work to improve child nutrition?: Program impact pathways of three nongovernmental organization intervention projects in the Peruvian highlands," IFPRI discussion papers 1105, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    17. Winters, P. & Gitter, S.R. & Manley, J. & Bernstein, B., 2017. "IFAD RESEARCH SERIES 18 - Do agricultural support and cash transfer programmes improve nutritional status?," IFAD Research Series 280056, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).
    18. Yunwei Chen & Sean Sylvia & Sarah-Eve Dill & Scott Rozelle, 2022. "Structural Determinants of Child Health in Rural China: The Challenge of Creating Health Equity," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-12, October.
    19. Schmeer, Kammi K., 2013. "Family structure and child anemia in Mexico," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 95(C), pages 16-23.
    20. repec:fpr:export:1342 is not listed on IDEAS
    21. Suman Chakrabarti & Samuel P. Scott & Harold Alderman & Purnima Menon & Daniel O. Gilligan, 2021. "Intergenerational nutrition benefits of India’s national school feeding program," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-10, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:5:p:2449-:d:509120. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.