iron deficiency anaemia (IDA)

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) results when the body has insufficient iron to make red blood cells. Having this deficiency may lower resistance to infections, and has also been shown to delay cognitive and psychomotor development in infants, with devastating effects on learning, work productivity, health and growth. Mild iron deficiency usually does not cause complications, but left untreated, can become severe and lead to health problems. Severe iron deficiency has been linked to premature births and low birth weight babies in pregnant women.   IDA in early childhood can lead to delayed growth, physical and mental delays in areas such as walking and talking and makes children also more susceptible to lead poisoning and infections.

 This study estimates the burden of disease attributable to iron deficiency anaema in children aged 0-4 years of age and pregnant women 15-49 years of age in South Africa in 2000 using the comparative risk assessment methodology developed by the WHO. View the results. (pdf format, 260 kb)