Information sheet 5 N4G COMMITMENT TO REDUCE PREVALENCE OF ANEMIA AMONG WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE
Anemia is a major national health challenge in Tanzania and affects mostly pregnant women, other women in childbearing age, and children. The prevalence of anemia among these groups is still high by WHO/UNICEF classification despite the significant gains made over the years, resulting in a reduction in prevalence from 40% in 2010 to 28.8 % among women of childbearing age (15-49 years) in 2018 (TNNS,2018).
Source: TNNS 2018 Among pregnant and lactating mothers, anemia increases the risk of:
Maternal mortality. Preterm delivery and Producing children with low birth weight. Thus, Anemia still constitutes a significant public health problem in Tanzania
Major causes of anemia in Tanzania Many direct and indirect factors are responsible for anemia. The direct causes include: ● ●
Iron deficiency and other micronutrient deficiencies resulting from low or non-con sumption of iron rich foods such as meat and meat products, vegetables, and fruits. Inadequate exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life.
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Early introduction of low nutrient value complementary foods.
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Low quality of complementary foods for young
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Blood loss.
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Diseases such as malaria, worm infection, Diarrhea
Risk factors include poor nutrition education /knowledge, household food insecurity, poor WASH conditions and low birth weight among children.
Challenges/bottlenecks in reducing the prevalence of anemia
Numerous challenges continue to undermine the prevention of anemia in the community especially among women of childbearing age and children:
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Exclusive breastfeeding is not optimal.
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Complementary feeding is not optimal.
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Inadequate maternal nutrition.
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Inadequate access to quality health care services that integrate management of diseases that exacerbate anemia and corresponding nutrition services.
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Low coverage of high impact interventions including iron and folic acid supplementation (IFA) and deworming among adolescents.
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Low uptake on family planning among adolescents.
A MULTISECTORAL APPROACH TO REDUCE AND PREVENT ANEMIA AMONG WOMEN AND CHILDREN The causes and multiple risk factors for anemia go beyond the health sector. For a comprehensive impact in prevention of anemia, a multisectoral approach involving both nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive interventions is inevitable. The key sectors AGRICULTURE: increase production of biofortified and iron rich crops, small livestock/poultry, dietary diversity. HEALTH: increase coverage of Iron supplementation, deworming, breast feeding and complementary feeding, family planning, malaria prevention and treatment. EDUCATION: address anemia through female literacy, health education, hygiene education, nutrition education, family planning/sexual and reproductive health education. WASH: improve latrines/ sanitation, handwashing with soap, access to clean water, WASH related diseases prevention, facilitation of livestock management and production. SOCIAL PROTECTION: empower vulnerable households with resources for income generation, nutrition safety nets, and sustainable livelihoods.
The NMNAP II The government has rolled out the second comprehensive National Nutrition Action Plan (NMNAP II) under the overall National Five-Year Development Plan III (FYDPII) covering 5 years-2021/2022-2025/26. The NMNAP II has focused on 2 key result areas that directly facilitate nutrition specific and sensitive interventions for reduction and prevention of anemia -undernutrition and micronutrient deficiencies. Women of childbearing age is one of the groups targeted to reduce anemia with the following key planned interventions: ●
Promotion of diversified diet, including locally available and afford able nutritious foods and fortified foods.
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Promotion of continued and consistent use of iron and folic acid or other micronutrients supplements
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Promotion of continued and consistent use of iron and folic acid or other micronutrients supplements
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Integration of sexual reproduction health (FP)
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Antenatal care, including HIV testing and treatment.
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Deworming
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Women’s empowerment and income generation skills for women
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Provision of school feeding and healthy school meals using fortified staple foods
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Provision of additional micronutrients through fortification and biofor tification of staple foods and targeted micronutrient supplementation (Iron/Folate)
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Promoting preconception and antenatal nutritional care in adolescents
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Promoting safe sanitation environment and hygiene
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Nutrition education and counseling support in school platform
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Promotion of completion of secondary education
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HIV testing and referral to treatment.
The way forward The government of the United Republic of Tanzania has committed to implement evidence-based nutrition specific and nutrition sensitive interventions to reduce the prevalence of anemia among women (15-49 years) from 28.8% to 23%, by 2026. The interventions will be implemented, monitored, and evaluated under the NMNAP II and a total of TZS 158.9 billion (USD 69 million) has been budgeted to fund planned actions. Thus, NMNAP II provides a comprehensive framework for addressing anemia in the country over the 5-year strategic timeframe-2021/22-2025/26. It provides a mobilization platform for key stakeholders including key line sectors, development partners, civil society, the academia, and private sector to come up with effective actions to reduce and prevent anemia, using some of the outlined interventions as entry points.
N4G COMMITMENT TO REDUCE PREVALENCE OF ANEMIA AMONG WOMEN OF CHILDBEARING AGE