Anaemia prevalence over time in Indonesia: estimates from the 1997, 2000, and 2008 Indonesia Family Life Surveys

Abstract

Objective: To summarize anaemia prevalence data for children, women, and men using data from the second, third and fourth waves of the Indonesia Family Life Surveys (IFLS), which were conducted in 1997/8, 2000, and 2007/8, respectively.

Methods: Anaemia prevalence was determined for children 0 to 5 years, 5 to 12 years, 12 to 15 years, non-pregnant women at least 15 years, pregnant women at least 15 years, and men at least 15 years, based on haemoglobin adjusted for altitude and smoking status.

Results: Compared with 1997/8 estimates, anaemia prevalence estimates were lower in 2007/8 for all groups, with the greatest relative decline occurring in children 5 to 12 years (25.4%). Trend analysis found anaemia significantly declined over the survey years for all groups (χ² p=0.005 for pregnant women, χ² p<0.001 for all other groups).

Conclusions: IFLS anaemia estimates for different population groups decreased between 1997/8 and 2007/8 and were consistent with estimates from Southeast Asia, and with other studies conducted in Indonesia. While the prevalence of anaemia consistently decreased in all groups, anaemia remains a moderate public health problem for children 0 to 5 years, children 5 to 12 years, and non-pregnant and pregnant women.