Anemia in low-income countries is unlikely to be addressed by economic development without additional programs.
Although governments may decline to invest in iron fortification or supplementation influenced by the view that income growth will address the problem, the data do not support this view. Looking at the rates of anemia among children and adult women across 40 Demographic and Health Surveys from 32 countries, this study found that although anemia rates do decrease as income increases, the decrease is modest. Indeed, overall anemia rates decline roughly a quarter as fast as income increases and at only half the speed at which rates of underweight decline.
Alderman
Harold
H
World Bank, Washington, DC 20433, USA. Halderman@worldbank.org
Linnemayr
Sebastian
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000740:Anemia / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D015362:Child Nutrition Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003710:Demography; D057217:Economic Development / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007228:Infant Nutrition Disorders / Q000191:economics / Q000517:prevention & control; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D039382:Maternal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D011203:Poverty / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D055815:Young Adult