The Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) Based on Hematologic Indices in Non-pregnant Women Aged ۱۵-۴۵ in Zanjan

Backround & Objective: Iron deficiency anemia is a major public health problem worldwide, particularly in developing countries. Women especially during reproductive life are vulnerable group. Around ۱/۳ of the worldۥs population suffers from anemia and nutritional deficiency is to blame as the most significant factor. About ۳۵۰ million women and ۵۰% of the children in developing countries are anemic. This disease has a high prevelance in our country and according to the statistis released by the nutrition improvement office, ۵۰% of women aged ۱۵-۴۹ suffer from various degrees of anemia and ۳۴% have severe anemia. Since no surveys about IDA have been carried out on non-pregnant women in zanjan, this study was carried out with the aim of determining IDA indices among non-pregnent women aged ۱۵-۴۵ in Zanjan. Materials & Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study ۳۳ clusters were randomly selected using the city map and out of each cluster ۱۰ non-pregnant women aged ۱۵-۴۵ were studied (total: ۳۳۰ people). The data was collected through a general questionnaire, taking ۵ml blood sample from right arm, and running tests on blood samples. Hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCHC, ferritin, serum iron, TIBC and transferrin saturation were determined, then the mean values were calculated and the prevalence of IDA was measured on the basis of blood indices. Results: IDA values were ۲۳.۶%, ۴۷.۳%, ۱۴.۵%, ۲۴.۲%, ۳۹.۶%, ۱۸.۲% and ۳۰.۳% in terms of hemoglobin, hematocrit, MCHC, serum iron, TIBC, transferrin saturation and ferritin, respectively, with the lowest value belonging to MCHC and the highest value to hematocrit. Conclusion: IDA has a relatively high prevalence among the studied women which stands above the countryۥs average, likely to be regarded as a public health priority. Thus, the women should be trained against wrong nutitional habits as well as receiving iron supplement in the short run, enrichment of foodstuff with iron is also recommended as a preventive plan.

Keywords:

Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) , Non-Pregnant women , Zanjan