RETRACTED: Impact of Nutrition Interventions for Reduction of Anemia in Women of Reproductive Age in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: A Meta-Review

Abstract

Background The UN Sustainable Development Goal aims at a 50% reduction of anemia in women of reproductive age (WRA) by 2030. Several nutrition-specific and sensitive interventions are targeted across LMICs to reduce anemia. Objectives The meta-review comprehensively assessed the effectiveness of nutrition-specific and sensitive interventions on hemoglobin (Hb) and serum ferritin (SF) concentrations, the prevalence of iron deficiency and anemia among WRA, pregnant women and lactating women from LMICs. Method The preparation of the present meta-review followed a double-blinded synthesis process with three stages- screening, quality appraisal and data extraction in Eppi Reviewer. Earlier, a well-designed peer-reviewed protocol was published (1). A comprehensive search was performed for systematic reviews (SRs) published between January 2000 and May 2022 using 21 international, national, and regional databases. The methodological quality appraisal of included studies was conducted using the Assessing the Methodological Quality of Systematic Reviews (AMSTAR) checklist. Results A total of 23 SRs evaluated the effects of various nutrition-specific interventions included in the final synthesis. The included SRs on nutrition-specific interventions such as supplementation of nutrients iron (n = 7), iron and folic acid (n = 4), vitamin A (n = 3), calcium (n = 2), multiple micronutrients (n = 7) and intravenous iron sucrose (n = 2). Also, SRs on fortification of nutrients included multiple micronutrients (n = 6), iron and folic acid (n = 4) and iron (n = 4). Of the 23 SRs, 22 were of high quality. Iron with or without folic acid supplementation and fortification and vitamin A supplementation consistently showed positive effects on either reduction in the prevalence of anemia or iron deficiency and in improving the Hb concentrations or SF concentrations in WRA and pregnant women from LMICs. Conclusion The comprehensive meta-review reported the beneficial effects of iron with or without folic acid, multiple micronutrient supplementation/fortification, and vitamin A supplementation in reducing the prevalence of anemia or iron deficiency and increase in Hb or SF concentrations in WRA from LMICs.

Determinants of anemia level among reproductive-age women in 29 Sub-Saharan African countries: A multilevel mixed-effects modelling with ordered logistic regression analysis

“…Different nutrition-specific interventions like supplementation of iron-folic acid and vitamin A, fortification of food, and improving dietary diversity and food security through agricultural initiatives have resulted in the reduction of anemia among pregnant and non-pregnant reproductive-age women [ 27 , 28 ]. Additionally, the implementation of programs like deworming, malaria control, water, sanitation, and hygiene were the strategies targeted to address non-nutritional causes of anemia among reproductive-age women [ 28 ].…”