FAQs on Iron Deficiency Anemia and Folate Deficiency among Filipino Pregnant Women

1. In the Philippines, how significant is iron deficiency among pregnant women?

Answer: There is a high prevalence of Anemia in the Philippines, and while decreasing, it is decreasing at a very slow pace:

Anemia prevalence:  pregnant women – 1998 – 45.7%, 2003 - 43.9%
                Lactating mothers – 1998 – 45.5%, 2003 – 42.2%
                Children 6 mos – 11 mos  - 1998 – 56.6%, 2003 – 66%
 
High IDA among young children is a reflection of the maternal status.  If the mother was anemic while she was pregnant then this is passed on to the child.


2. How about Folate deficiency? Or is it folate deficiency or just folate supplementation?

Answer: There is no data on folate deficiency among women/pregnant mothers.  In the Filipino diet, about 30-40% of folic acid is obtained from regular diet.  This means that additional supplementation is necessary.
 
While local diet consists of vegetable, they are not good sources of folic acid especially since we have tendency to overcook our vegetable.


3. In your experience, what challenges are there to making a diagnosis of iron-deficiency anaemia in the general clinical setting (e.g. heme tests are not routine in many countries)?

4. How challenging is making a diagnosis of iron-deficiency anaemia in pregnant women, considering that pre-natal care may be less than ideal?   

Answers: There is no routine testing done especially among the lower income groups because of financial constraints. Not all local health units have anemia testing instruments.  For private individuals, testing is done but only during medical check-ups, which are not regular and only when patients feel they are sick.

What is currently done is a therapeutic trial.  Iron and folic acid supplementation are given once a doctor finds out that his/her patient is pregnant.

Click here to learn more about iron deficiency anemia and folate deficiency.

[previous|page|next]

Read on to learn more about iron deficiency anemia and folate deficiency.

There is no program for iron and folic acid supplementation before pregnancy. Women seek prenatal care much later- about 1-2 months after they miss their periods.  No consults are made before pregnancy thus no supplementations of iron or folic acid are given for pre-conception.


5. What local guidelines/consensus statements exist regarding the treatment of these conditions?

Answer: The Philippine Obstetrics ans Gynecological Society has recently prepared and printed the Clinical Practice Guidelines in Iron Deficiency Anemia. It still needs to be disseminated across the country.


6. Is the outlook for women with iron-deficiency anaemia in the Philippines improving?

Answer: The outlook is improving.  Diet is not enough to complete iron and folic acid supplementation. But the outlook is improving.  

The government has an iron fortification program (where iron is included in rice, bread, and some commercially prepared meals).

The Phil Obstetrics and Gynecological Society and the Phil. Pediatric Society have anemia prevention programs.  Private activities like the Iberet Gift of Life and the Anemia testing program have been helping to create awareness for anemia and the need to treat.


The Philippine Obstetricians Gynecological Society has recently prepared and printed the Clinical Practice Guidelines in Iron Deficiency Anemia. It still needs to be disseminated across the country.

Photo from commons.wikimedia.org