Iron Deficiency Anemia

Vitamin A

Ghana

Iron

Iodine




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Country Profile		Policy & Legislation
		Program Data
		Monitoring
		Program Resources


	EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA


Anemia
Most Recent Anemia Survey: National

Date:

1995

Groups Surveyed:

Pre-school and school age, pregnant and lactating women. (Ages not reported)

Sample Size:

Pre-school: 922

School: 926

Pregnant: 208

Lactating: 271

Sampling Method:

Random sampling from the 3 main ecological zones. 20 enumeration areas (EA), 60 preschool, 60 school age, 20 pregnant and 20 lactating from each EA.

Estimated Anemia Prevalence: Indicators:

non-pregnant women >15 years of age: Hb < 120 g/L

dsa

pregnant women of any age: Hb < 110 g/L

men > 15 years of age: Hb < 130 g/L

children 6 - 60 months of age: Hb < 110 g/L

children 5 – 11 years of age: Hb < 115 g/L

children 12 – 14 years of age: Hb < 120 g/L

Region/group*	Sample size	Indicator (e.g. Hb<120g/L, <110g/L, etc.)	Prevalence in sample %
Preschool Rural	596	Not Reported	85.2
Preschool Urban	326		80.4
Preschool Total	922		83.5

School age children Rural	555		78.2
School age children -Urban	371		61.5
School age children Total	926		71.3

Pregnant Rural	113		70.8
Pregnant Urban	95		61.5
Pregnant Total	208		65.4

Lactating Women Rural	150		69.3
Lactating women Urban	121		50.9
Lactating WomenTotal	271		59.0

Preschool-Northern Savannah	147		86.4
Preschool –Forest belt	612		82.5
Preschool-Coastal Savannah	163		84.7
Total Preschool	922		83.5

School age-Northern Savannah	154		55.8
School age-Forest belt	534		75.3
School age-Coastal Savannah	213		72.8
School age Total	926		71.3

Pregnant Women-Northern Savannah	58		74.1
Pregnant Women-Forest Belt	100		67.0
Pregnant Women-Coastal Savannah	50		52
Pregnant Women Total	208		65.4

Lactating Women –Northern Savannah	50		74.1
Lactating Women Forest Belt	167		66.5
Lactating Women Coastal Savannah	54		37
Lactating women Total	271		59




	POLICY AND LEGISLATION

Legislation on IDA


	There is no legislation for iron deficiency in Ghana, nor is it being developed.
	The government has not published any documents stating the national policy on iron deficiency.
	There is national policy for universal iron supplementation of pregnant women.
	There is no national policy for iron supplementation of children, however it is being considered. (Pilot testing of fortified sprinkles)
	There is no national policy for iron fortification programs, but they are under consideration.


Government Agency to Address IDD
	Nutrition Unit, Ghana Health Service. This agencies functions are coordination, monitoring, and funding.
	Contact information: Box M78 Accra, nutrition@ighmail.com



	PROGRAM DATA


Supplementation
Program Description - Pregnant women
	A national program to provide iron folate supplements to all pregnant women.


Targeting
	National: All pregnant women. (Number not provided.)


Capsule Information
	Iron folate 60 mgs/day


Implementation
	The iron folate is distributed daily to pregnant women in antenatal clinics.

Fortification

No current fortification programs.

Other Programs

Education Campaigns

There are no large-scale, national or community-based programs to promote improved iron status through dietary change.


De-worming Programs
	Not reported


Malarial Programs
	National Malaria Control Program.



	MONITORING

Anemia
Current monitoring activities for iron deficiency anemia:
	The indicator used is the proportion of pregnant women registrants at ANC with Hb < 10gm/dl.
	The surveys mentioned above are not being repeated.
	There is no community-based monitoring of anemia.
	There are lab facilities for Hb estimates at some hospitals.
	The types of field tests used are hemoglobinometers and/or centrifuges for Hb or hematocrit.

Programs
	There is no monitoring of supplementation programs, yet.



	PROGRAM RESOURCES

Donor and Implementing Agencies

Implementing Agency	Description of Activities	Expenditure and source of funds in current year
Implementing Agency	Description of Activities	Supplementation	Fortification	Other (specify)
Nutrition Unit	Initiating fortification/IEC/Coordination (UNICEF/ MOST funded)	$5,000		$4,375 Consensus building
Disease Control Unit	Control of Malaria(Govt/WHO funded)
Reproductive & Child Health	Supplementation in Pregnant women (UNICEF funded)

Total Iron Program Funding History and Forecast for Country

Year	Iron Activity				Total $(000)
	Supplementation $(000)	Fortification $(000)	Other (specify)
	Supplementation $(000)	Fortification $(000)	Activity	$(000)
1998			Prevalence survey completion	0.7
1999
2000
2001			Rapid appraisal Iron folic supplementation	7.0 Funding from MOST
2002			Consensus building	4.375
2003
2004
2005

EPIDEMIOLOGICAL DATA

POLICY AND LEGISLATION

PROGRAM DATA

Iron Activity