Understanding Anemia among Women of Reproductive Age and Children in Namibia: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Anemia is one of the leading causes of death globally, not only among children and women; however, there have been records of deaths among men too. Anemia disproportionately affects young children and expecting mothers with increased morbidity and mortality. Who estimates that anemia affects 30% of women aged 15 to 49, 37% of pregnant women, and 40% of children aged 6 to 59 months globally. The goal of lowering anemia among women of reproductive age has not been met, and 25.2% of women between the ages of 15 and 49 are now affected in Namibia. Namibia with a current prevalence rate of 46.1% of children under 5 years, is a severe global public health issue. According to the morphological classification of anemia, normocytic normochromic anemia (86.3%) was the most common kind in Namibia, with a moderate frequency of iron deficiency anemia whereas the highest prevalence of vitamin b12 deficient anemia was found in some regions. Anemia indicates both poor nutrition and poor health and is often categorized based on its cause. Iron deficiency, pregnancy, antiretroviral therapy side effects, and hereditary blood abnormalities increase the risk of anemia. Depending on the hemoglobin levels in the blood, anemia can be either short-term or long-term. For pregnant women and children under the age of 5, mild anemia is defined as a level of hemoglobin concentration between 10.0 and 10.9g/dl, moderate anemia is defined as a level between 7.0 and 9.9g/dl, and severe anemia is defined as a level below 7.0g/dl. Medical professionals follow different standards such as typical treatment recommendations, World Health Organization recommendations, and reference materials while dealing with individuals who have suspected anemia.