Anaemia in Developing Countries: Burden and Prospects of Prevention and Control

Anaemia constitutes a public health problem in developing countries. Worldwide, about 2 billion people are estimated to suffer from anaemia and it is reported to account for threequarters of 1 million deaths a year in Africa and South-East Asia. The underlying causes of anaemia are many, varied and largely preventable; these include nutritional deficiencies, infections and haemoglobin disorders. Cost-effective interventions against anaemia are well documented in the literature. However, there are constraints to diagnosis, treatment and prevention in resource-poor settings of developing countries. Effective management of anaemia includes treatment of the underlying cause, restoration of the haemoglobin concentration to normal levels, and prevention and treatment of complications, among others. Suggested strategies aimed at preventing anaemia focused on the major underlying causes in developing countries.