Anemia among adolescent and young adult women in Latin America and the Caribbean: A cause for concern

adolescents and young adults can have negative effects on their cognitive performance and growth. If pregnancy occurs during adolescence, anemia can not only increase maternal morbidity and mortality, but increase the incidence of poor birth outcomes in the infant (e.g., low birth weight, and prematurity) and also negatively impact infant iron status. Furthermore, through its effects on cognitive and work performance, anemia can impact current and future economic productivity: the productivity benefits for correcting anemia in adults range from 5-17% for manual work, and 4% for all other work.4 At all levels, the negative effects of anemia during adolescence justify public health action; unfortunately because initiatives to prevent anemia commonly target infants, young children and pregnant and lactating women, and not necessarily adolescents, the needs of adolescents may remain unmet, and the consequences of anemia in adolescents continue. Anemia among adolescent and young adult women in Latin America and the Caribbean: A cause for concern