Prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in women of reproductive age is a major malnutrition concern in developing countries. IDA is associated with complex interactions between its causes and socioeconomic determinants, varying across regions at sub-national levels. Dearth of academic and clinical literature on this association and lack of nationally representative data on the relevant indicators for Pakistan are major roadblocks to treat the national burden. Relevant literature is available for India but almost no studies are done on other countries in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. This study presents the prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age, a vulnerable group that is disadvantaged in Pakistan in terms of access to and outcomes related to health. The study explores the socio-economic determinants of IDA in women, the extent of socio-economic inequality in IDA and district-wise spatial patterns in its prevalence. By using data from the recent Pakistan National Nutrition Survey 2018 and employing sophisticated empirical techniques of bivariate analysis, multivariate logistic regression, concentration index and choropleth maps, the study elucidate how multifactorial socio-economic determinants affect the prevalence of IDA in Pakistan. There is also a significant inequality in the incidence of IDA across the districts. Hence, multi-sectoral and integrated interventions targeting specific groups and geographical areas need to be designed, developed and implemented.
Annotation in English
Prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in women of reproductive age is a major malnutrition concern in developing countries. IDA is associated with complex interactions between its causes and socioeconomic determinants, varying across regions at sub-national levels. Dearth of academic and clinical literature on this association and lack of nationally representative data on the relevant indicators for Pakistan are major roadblocks to treat the national burden. Relevant literature is available for India but almost no studies are done on other countries in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. This study presents the prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age, a vulnerable group that is disadvantaged in Pakistan in terms of access to and outcomes related to health. The study explores the socio-economic determinants of IDA in women, the extent of socio-economic inequality in IDA and district-wise spatial patterns in its prevalence. By using data from the recent Pakistan National Nutrition Survey 2018 and employing sophisticated empirical techniques of bivariate analysis, multivariate logistic regression, concentration index and choropleth maps, the study elucidate how multifactorial socio-economic determinants affect the prevalence of IDA in Pakistan. There is also a significant inequality in the incidence of IDA across the districts. Hence, multi-sectoral and integrated interventions targeting specific groups and geographical areas need to be designed, developed and implemented.
Keywords
iron deficiency anaemia, women of reproductive age, Pakistan, prevalence, socio-economic determinants, socio-economic inequality, spatial pattern
Keywords in English
iron deficiency anaemia, women of reproductive age, Pakistan, prevalence, socio-economic determinants, socio-economic inequality, spatial pattern
Length of the covering note
47 p.(15976 words)
Language
AN
Annotation
Prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in women of reproductive age is a major malnutrition concern in developing countries. IDA is associated with complex interactions between its causes and socioeconomic determinants, varying across regions at sub-national levels. Dearth of academic and clinical literature on this association and lack of nationally representative data on the relevant indicators for Pakistan are major roadblocks to treat the national burden. Relevant literature is available for India but almost no studies are done on other countries in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. This study presents the prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age, a vulnerable group that is disadvantaged in Pakistan in terms of access to and outcomes related to health. The study explores the socio-economic determinants of IDA in women, the extent of socio-economic inequality in IDA and district-wise spatial patterns in its prevalence. By using data from the recent Pakistan National Nutrition Survey 2018 and employing sophisticated empirical techniques of bivariate analysis, multivariate logistic regression, concentration index and choropleth maps, the study elucidate how multifactorial socio-economic determinants affect the prevalence of IDA in Pakistan. There is also a significant inequality in the incidence of IDA across the districts. Hence, multi-sectoral and integrated interventions targeting specific groups and geographical areas need to be designed, developed and implemented.
Annotation in English
Prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in women of reproductive age is a major malnutrition concern in developing countries. IDA is associated with complex interactions between its causes and socioeconomic determinants, varying across regions at sub-national levels. Dearth of academic and clinical literature on this association and lack of nationally representative data on the relevant indicators for Pakistan are major roadblocks to treat the national burden. Relevant literature is available for India but almost no studies are done on other countries in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa. This study presents the prevalence of anaemia in women of reproductive age, a vulnerable group that is disadvantaged in Pakistan in terms of access to and outcomes related to health. The study explores the socio-economic determinants of IDA in women, the extent of socio-economic inequality in IDA and district-wise spatial patterns in its prevalence. By using data from the recent Pakistan National Nutrition Survey 2018 and employing sophisticated empirical techniques of bivariate analysis, multivariate logistic regression, concentration index and choropleth maps, the study elucidate how multifactorial socio-economic determinants affect the prevalence of IDA in Pakistan. There is also a significant inequality in the incidence of IDA across the districts. Hence, multi-sectoral and integrated interventions targeting specific groups and geographical areas need to be designed, developed and implemented.
Keywords
iron deficiency anaemia, women of reproductive age, Pakistan, prevalence, socio-economic determinants, socio-economic inequality, spatial pattern
Keywords in English
iron deficiency anaemia, women of reproductive age, Pakistan, prevalence, socio-economic determinants, socio-economic inequality, spatial pattern
Research Plan
The World Health Organization has stated that malnutrition is the single most dangerous threat to global public health. It affects health of infants at birth, cognitive development in early years and productivity in later age. While the causes can be attributed to poor quality of diet, poor maternal health and socioeconomic status, severe deficiencies in protein, iron, iodine, vitamin A and zinc are main manifestations of malnutrition in developing countries. Based on a conservative scenario by UNICEF, it is projected that an additional 22 million children in low- and middle-income countries will be stunted, an additional 40 million will be wasted between 2020 and 2030 due to the pandemic. Comprehensive and urgent efforts are required to address the detrimental effects of the pandemic and achieve the 2030 global targets.
This research aims to study the incidence of malnutrition in poor communities of developing countries and perform a thorough exploratory analysis in a selected region. Considering possible constraints, it may also carry out comparative analyses and present policy recommendations.
Research Plan
The World Health Organization has stated that malnutrition is the single most dangerous threat to global public health. It affects health of infants at birth, cognitive development in early years and productivity in later age. While the causes can be attributed to poor quality of diet, poor maternal health and socioeconomic status, severe deficiencies in protein, iron, iodine, vitamin A and zinc are main manifestations of malnutrition in developing countries. Based on a conservative scenario by UNICEF, it is projected that an additional 22 million children in low- and middle-income countries will be stunted, an additional 40 million will be wasted between 2020 and 2030 due to the pandemic. Comprehensive and urgent efforts are required to address the detrimental effects of the pandemic and achieve the 2030 global targets.
This research aims to study the incidence of malnutrition in poor communities of developing countries and perform a thorough exploratory analysis in a selected region. Considering possible constraints, it may also carry out comparative analyses and present policy recommendations.
Recommended resources
UNICEF / WHO / World Bank Group. Levels and Trends in Child Malnutrition. Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates. Key findings of the 2021 edition
UNICEF 2021. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021
Smith and Haddad, 2002. Explaining Child Malnutrition in Developing Countries: A Cross-country Analysis
Recommended resources
UNICEF / WHO / World Bank Group. Levels and Trends in Child Malnutrition. Joint Child Malnutrition Estimates. Key findings of the 2021 edition
UNICEF 2021. The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021
Smith and Haddad, 2002. Explaining Child Malnutrition in Developing Countries: A Cross-country Analysis
Enclosed appendices
-
Appendices bound in thesis
tables
Taken from the library
No
Full text of the thesis
Appendices
Reviewer's report
Supervisor's report
Defence procedure record
The student Arooj presented the results of the diploma thesis - Iron-Deficiency Anaemia (IDA): Socio-Economic Inequality and Spatial Patterns in its Prevalence in Women of Reproductive Age in Pakistan - Arooj started the presentation by defining the Aenema disease in the studied context and then discussed the literature review related to her topic. She then proceeded to the description of the used variables (dependent and independent). The statistical methods are used to explain the effect of socio-economic factors on health outcomes. The results of the analysis were described in detail according to the output of the used statistical methods. Discussion followed at the end of the thesis defence and was mainly about the limitations of the second chapter of the research. The student answered the questions or discussed topics given by the members of the committee: the effect of the marital status, the heterogeneity of the prevalence between the districts etc.