PSI

The World Health Organization estimates that 43% of all women of reproductive age living in the developing world have iron deficiency anemia (IDA). IDA during pregnancy results in more than 60,000 maternal deaths each year. Folic acid deficiency during pregnancy also causes more than 200,000 neural tube defects. Many countries' attempts to combat iron deficiencies during pregnancy with the distribution of iron folic acid through prenatal clinics has proved less than successful due to the fact that many women in developing countries do not seek prenatal treatment or do so too late to take advantage of iron folate.

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Health Areas: Reproductive Health