Chinese Journal of Medical History / Zhong Hua Yi Shi Za Zhi

[This article belongs to Volume - 53, Issue - 04]

Abstract : Anemia and iron deficiency (ID) are the most common nutritional deficiency in the world. According to a survey conducted in Morocco in 2000, 32.6 % of women of reproductive age (WRA) were anemic, this calls to implement of a national wheat flour fortification program with electrolytic iron. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of anemia, ID and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) among WRA in Morocco. A representative sample size of 2012 of non-pregnant women, aged 15–49 years, from the different regions of Morocco was included in this study. Socio-demographic, anthropometric data and blood sampling were collected. Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration, serum ferritin (SF) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were determined. The average age, weight; height and Body Mass Index (BMI) were 32.8±9.3 years, 69.1±14.4 Kg, 159.7±7 cm and 27.1±5.7 Kg/m2, respectively. Overall, anemia and ID affect 34.1% and 29.8%, respectively. Furthermore, a rate of 47. 9% of anemic women were ID, anemia was significantly higher in urban areas. Our findings from this national survey indicate that after more than 10 years of adopting electrolytic iron fortification of flour to combat iron deficiency in Morocco, anemia, ID and IDA are still prevalent among WRA. It would be advisable to test alternative strategies or to change the form of iron used for fortification to reduce, even eliminate, iron deficiency among women in Morocco.