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Article: Defining iron-deficiency anemia in public health terms: A time for reflection
- Article from:
- The Journal of Nutrition
- Article date:
- February 1, 2001
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright American Institute of Nutrition Feb 2001. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Defining Iron-Deficiency Anemia in Public Health Terms: A Time for Reflection1,2
ABSTRACT This paper provides a historical context for this meeting, which aimed to examine critically the way we have defined iron-deficiency anemia as a public health problem. The terms and concepts used to define the problem are reviewed first, followed by estimates of the global prevalence of the problem from 1985 to 2000. It is argued that recent estimates are not credible and that we must redefine the problem in terms that are important, measurable and addressable. This meeting was designed to take first steps toward that goal, namely, to identify the causal factors (e.g., iron deficiency vs. ...