|
Prevention of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Iran: A policy Brief
|
A Dehghani   , M Rafraf * , F Mohammadi Nasrabadi , R Khodayari Zarnaq |
| Tabriz University of Medical Sciences , rafrafm@tbzmed.ac.ir |
|
|
Abstract: (140 Views) |
Background and Objective: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a public health problem in Iran. The Iranian government has taken several policies to prevent this problem in recent years, but there are still problems in providing resources, accessing health services, and raising awareness that prevent the full effectiveness of these policies.
Methodology: This policy brief is based on a qualitative study in three stages: 1- a review of policies, programs, and interventions implemented in different countries, 2- semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with stakeholders and participants, and finally 3- an expert panel to present policy options.
Findings: 9 policy options were presented: 1- Monitoring, supervising and evaluating the implementation of programs and reviewing related documents, 2- Improving the level of health awareness and literacy and empowering the community, 3- Assessing and monitoring the production, preparation and distribution of quality iron supplements and the use of appropriate salts, 4- Reforming the educational curriculum in universities and increasing the share of courses related to health, nutrition and public health, 5- Promoting the participation of families and executive actors in schools, 6- Education about healthy nutrition, consumption diversity, cooking methods and changing incorrect cultural habits in nutrition, 7- Improving the media literacy of the people for health education, 8- Using new carriers in fortification and separating food, and labeling them, 9- Collecting accurate information and statistical data on the effectiveness and success of programs and the current situation.
Conclusion: Responsible organizations, such as the Ministry of Health, should place greater emphasis on allocating budgets for preventive programs. Implementing these recommendations could be a fundamental step towards preventing iron deficiency anemia in Iran. |
|
| Keywords: Prevention, Iron deficiency anemia, Policy brief, Iran |
|
|
Full-Text [PDF 457 kb]
(54 Downloads)
|
Article type: Brief Policy |
Subject:
nutrition
Received: 2026/05/31 | Accepted: 2026/01/30 | Published: 2026/06/1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| References |
1. Bermejo F, García-López S. A guide to diagnosis of iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia in digestive diseases. World journal of gastroenterology: WJG. 2009;15(37):4638. [ DOI:10.3748/wjg.15.4638] 2. Pobee RA, Setorglo J, Klevor M, Murray-Kolb LE. The prevalence of anemia and iron deficiency among pregnant Ghanaian women, a longitudinal study. PloS one. 2021;16(3):e0248754. [ DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0248754] 3. Clark SF. Iron deficiency anemia. Nutrition in clinical practice. 2008;23(2):128-41. [ DOI:10.1177/0884533608314536] 4. Moy R. Prevalence, consequences and prevention of childhood nutritional iron deficiency: a child public health perspective. Clinical & Laboratory Haematology. 2006;28(5):291-8. [ DOI:10.1111/j.1365-2257.2006.00793.x] 5. Aghamohamadi S, Hajinabi K, Jahangiri K, Asl IM, Dehnavieh R. Population and mortality profile in the Islamic Republic of Iran, 2006-2035. Eastern Mediterranean health journal. 2018;24(5):469-76. [ DOI:10.26719/2018.24.5.469] 6. Faghir-Ganji M, Amanollahi A, Nikbina M, Ansari-Moghaddam A, Abdolmohammadi N. Prevalence and risk factors of anemia in first, second and third trimesters of pregnancy in Iran: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Heliyon. 2023;9(3). [ DOI:10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14197] 7. Farzadfar F, Naghavi M, Sepanlou SG, Moghaddam SS, Dangel WJ, Weaver ND, et al. Health system performance in Iran: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet. 2022;399(10335):1625-45. [ DOI:10.1016/S0140-6736(21)02751-3] 8. Pouraram H, Djazayery A, Mohammad K, Parsaeian M, Abdollahi Z, Motlagh AD, et al. Second national integrated micronutrient survey in Iran: Study design and preliminary findings. Archives of Iranian medicine. 2018;21(4):137-44. 9. Initiative M. Preventing iron deficiency in women and children: background and consensus on key technical issues and resources for advocacy, planning and implementing national programmes: INF, Boston, MA, US; 1999. 10. Noronha JA, Bhaduri A, Bhat HV, Kamath A. Interventional study to strengthen the health promoting behaviours of pregnant women to prevent anaemia in southern India. Midwifery. 2013;29(7):e35-e41. [ DOI:10.1016/j.midw.2012.07.014] 11. Garzon S, Cacciato PM, Certelli C, Salvaggio C, Magliarditi M, Rizzo G. Iron deficiency anemia in pregnancy: novel approaches for an old problem. Oman medical journal. 2020;35(5):e166. [ DOI:10.5001/omj.2020.108] 12. Pasricha S-R, Drakesmith H, Black J, Hipgrave D, Biggs B-A. Control of iron deficiency anemia in low-and middle-income countries. Blood, The Journal of the American Society of Hematology. 2013;121(14):2607-17. [ DOI:10.1182/blood-2012-09-453522] 13. Akbari M, Moosazadeh M, Tabrizi R, Khatibi SR, Khodadost M, Heydari ST, et al. Estimation of iron deficiency anemia in Iranian children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hematology. 2017;22(4):231-9. [ DOI:10.1080/10245332.2016.1240933] 14. Dehghani A, Molani-Gol R, Rafraf M, Mohammadi-Nasrabadi F, Khodayari-Zarnaq R. Iron deficiency anemia status in Iranian pregnant women and children: an umbrella systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth. 2024;24(1):381. [ DOI:10.1186/s12884-024-06575-z] 15. Dehghani A, Rafraf M, Mohammadi-Nasrabadi F, Khodayari-Zarnaq R, Tavakoli N. Agenda-setting for iron deficiency anaemia prevention and control policies in Iran by multiple streams framework. Health Research Policy and Systems. 2024;22(1):166. [ DOI:10.1186/s12961-024-01265-w] 16. Dehghani A, Rafraf M, Mohammadi-Nasrabadi F, Khodayari-Zarnaq R. What is the best strategy for iron deficiency anemia prevention and control in Iran? a policy analysis study protocol. Plos one. 2024;19(10):e0311276. [ DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0311276] 17. Walt G, Shiffman J, Schneider H, Murray SF, Brugha R, Gilson L. 'Doing'health policy analysis: methodological and conceptual reflections and challenges. Health policy and planning. 2008;23(5):308-17. [ DOI:10.1093/heapol/czn024] |
|
| Send email to the article author |
|
|
|
| Add your comments about this article |
|
|
|
|
Dehghani A, Rafraf M, Mohammadi Nasrabadi F, Khodayari Zarnaq R. Prevention of Iron Deficiency Anemia in Iran: A policy Brief. Iranian J Nutr Sci Food Technol 2026; 20 (5) :157-162 URL: http://nsft.sbmu.ac.ir/article-1-4166-en.html
|
