Nigerian women of reproductive age are anaemic – Nutritionist

Lagos – A nutritionist, Prof. Ngozi Nnam, on Sunday said one out of every two
women of reproductive age in Nigeria was anaemic as a result of iron
deficiency.
Nnam, who is the National President of Nutrition Society of Nigeria (NSN), in an
interview in Lagos, said that anaemia in women, especially pregnant ones, was
a serious global public health problem with adverse pregnancy outcomes.
According to her, pregnant women, other women and adolescent girls of
reproductive age and children, are particularly vulnerable.
“Inadequate iron intake is dangerous to both baby and mother as it can result
in severe morbidity and mortality during childbirth as well as negative pregnancy
outcomes.
“This condition occurs when the concentration of haemoglobin falls below what
is normal for a person’s age, gender and environment, resulting in the oxygen-
carrying capacity of the blood being reduced.
“It is a major source of worry that one out of two Nigerian women of
reproductive age is anaemic and they directly or indirectly transmit this
deficiency to their babies and children,’’ she said.
“When a pregnant woman lacks iron nutrient, the brain formation and
development of the unborn baby as well as other cell formation will be impaired.
“Women need adequate intake of iron because 70 per cent of brain development
happens during pregnancy.
“Inability to provide adequate iron nutrient for proper development of the brain
leads to insult in the brain and it reduces intelligence quotient (IQ) by 13.5
points, and the effects are irreversible.
“ It also leads to stunted brain, stunted developments that can affect
educational performance, physical and intellectual capacity of a child.
“Children are leaders of tomorrow and we need them to be healthy mentally and
physically to secure the future of the nation.
“We need healthy children, who will grow into healthy adults to drive the
productivity and economic growth of the country, “ Nnam added.
She said that qualified nutritionists should be integrated into the management
of anaemic pregnant women and that efforts should be made towards early
diagnosis and treatment of all anaemic pregnant women before delivery.
“Preconception care, including iron and folic acid supplementation, is advocated
to reduce this problem.
“All of these efforts would help to ensure safe motherhood and achieve the
relevant targets of the Millennium Development Goals,” she stressed.