Iron Deficiency Anemia

Vitamin A

Cameroon

Iron

Iodine

	Date:	August to November 2000
	Groups Surveyed:	The survey targeted women at reproductive age 15 - 45, men >15 yrs, and children aged 12 to 71 months both male and female.
	Sample Size:	2516 children, 2508 women at reproductive age (among which 308 were pregnant), and 901 men 3163 mothers, 1183 adult males (overall sample size = 7575)
	Sampling Method:	WHO cluster sample
	Estimated Anemia Prevalence: Indicators were HBC and Serum Ferritin.

Region/group*	Sample size	Population in region/group (if known)	Indicator (e.g. Hb<120g/L, <110g/L, etc.)	Prevalence in sample %
#1 National	2516	Children 1 to 5 years	<110g/L	57%
#2 National	2200	Women 15-45 years Non pregnant	Hb < 120 g/L	23.7%
#3 National	308	pregnant women of any age	Hb < 110 g/L	52.6%
#4 National	901	men > 15 years of age	Hb < 130 g/L	19.1%
Forestry Zone	516	Children 1 to 5 years	<110g/L	67.6%
High land	521	Children 1 to 5 years	<110g/L	36.5%
Coastal	491	Children 1 to 5 years	<110g/L	63.3%
Sahelien	501	Children 1 to 5 years	<110g/L	53.1%
Douala/Yaoundé (Urban)	487	Children 1 to 5 years	<110g/L	52%

Legislation on IDA


	Cameroon does not currently have legislation to address iron deficiency, supplementation, or food fortification with iron.


Government Agency to Address IDD
	The government agency that deals with IDA is the Nutrition Unit/ MoPH.
	Contact information: Daniel Sibetcheu


Supplementation
Program Description - Women
	There is supplementation with Iron/folate tablets for pregnant women and women of reproductive age at antenatal clinics.
	Pregnant women receive daily supplementation after the second trimester.
Program Description - Children (under consideration, to start in 2003)
	Female adolescents and school children ( 4,500,000 children) are the target groups.
	Iron/folate tablets are to be distributed weekly.

Fortification
	There is no fortification of iron.

Other Programs

Distribution of insecticide treated nets has a dual role in anemia and malaria control.

Anemia
Current monitoring activities for iron deficiency anemia:
	There is no community-based monitoring of anemia.
	The surveys mentioned previously are not currently being repeated.
	There are lab facilities at the provincial level: Centre Pasteur du Cameroun.
	Field tests (HemoCue) are used in the national survey.

Donor and Implementing Agencies

The national and state governments provide the iron/folate supply through the drug program.

UNICEF provides a supply of multi-nutrients, support for training, IEC, monitoring, and evaluation.

Program Funding

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA