Bangladesh
Anemia has substantial negative effects on the health and economic wellbeing of nations and communities. Children with anemia experience irrevocable cognitive and developmental delays and exhibit decreased worker productivity as adults.1 Globally, maternal anemia increases the risk of pre-term delivery and low birth weight, and iron-deficiency anemia underlies 115,000 maternal deaths and 591,000 perinatal deaths each year.2
1. Walker, S. P., T. D. Wachs, J. M. Gardner, B. Lozoff, G. A. Wasserman, E. Pollitt, and J. A. Carter. 2007. “Child development: risk factors for adverse outcomes in developing countries.” Lancet, 369(9556): 145-157.
2. Stoltzfus, R. J., L. Mullany, and R. E. Black. 2004. “Iron Deficiency Anemia.” In Comparative Quantification of Health Risks: Global and Regional Burden of Disease Attributable to Selected Major Risk Factors. M. Ezzati, A. D. Lopez, A. Rodgers, and C. J. L. Murray, eds. Geneva: World Health Organization.
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Anemia Prevalence
Status of Policies or Strategies to Support Reductions in Anemia*
| IFA for pregnant women IFA for women of reproductive age IFA for adolescent girls Micronutrient powders for children Indoor residual spraying National policy on sanitation N/A IPTp for pregnant women1 Malaria diagnosis and treatment |
Long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) for household use Deworming for children Deworming for pregnant women Breastfeeding Iron and/or folic acid fortification legislation Dietary diversity for complementary feeding |
| Key | |
|---|---|
| no policy policy pending |
policy in place missing documentation |
* Information from the Global database on the Implementation of Nutrition Action (GINA) (https://extranet.who.int/nutrition/gina/en) or country documentation.
The status of policies and strategies have been identified to the best of our knowledge. Revisions and updates are welcome.
1) Not part of national malaria strategy due to low prevalence of malaria during pregnancy.
Evidence-informed WHO guidance can be found here: http://www.who.int/elena/en/
Pregnancy
In pregnancy, infections are a key cause of anemia and can be prevented by sleeping under a bednet and taking intermittent preventive treatment (IPTp) for malaria and deworming pills. Anemia can also be prevented by taking iron folic acid (IFA) supplements.
31% of pregnant women in Bangladesh attended 4+ ANC visits
Infants and Young Children
For infants and young children, delayed cord clamping, sleeping under a bednet, and exclusive breastfeeding reduce the risk of becoming anemic.
For young children, continued breastfeeding and adequate complementary feeding (including micronutrients), preventing and treating malaria, and taking deworming pills can prevent anemia and promote healthy growth.
50% of children 6-59 months were given deworming medication in the past six months (2011)
Women and Adolescent Girls
For women and adolescent girls, IFA supplements and deworming help prevent anemia. Family planning delays the age at first birth.
17% of married adolescent girls expressed an unmet need for family planning (2014)
Household
In households, improving basic hygiene and sanitation practices reduces the risk of infection and can help prevent anemia.
While nearly all households (96%) had a place for handwashing, only 29% of those households had water and soap for washing hands (2014)
