IndexCauses of iron deficiency anemiaInadequate iron intakeBlood lossParasitic infectionsChronic infections and pregnancyEffects of anemiaReduced productivityHeart problemsComplications during pregnancyChild development problemsConclusionReferencesAnemia it is the lack of quality hemoglobin in the blood caused mainly by the lack of enough iron in the body. Iron is a very important mineral contained in foods which helps, among other things, in the formation of hemoglobin. Hemoglobin is contained in red blood cells. It is worth noting that iron deficiency anemia is the most common form of anemia worldwide according to the World Health Organization (World Health Organization, n.d.). Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Hemoglobin helps transport oxygen in the body. Oxygen is very important for the functionality of the muscles and organs of the body. Once iron supplementation drops below required levels in the body, the body uses stored reserves to produce more hemoglobin. By using the iron reservoir the body is likely to produce low quality hemoglobin or too little hemoglobin. This complete use of irons leads to the onset of iron deficiency anemia. Through studies conducted over the years, it has been established that infants, children under five years of age, school-age children, pregnant women, vegetarians, and athletes are most susceptible to this condition. The prevalence is higher in developing countries located mainly in Asia and Africa. Africa accounts for 51% of pregnant women with anemia, while Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean account for 75% and 55% of women with the condition, respectively (World Health Organization, n.d.). IDA can be classified as severe, mild, normal and moderate. In developing countries, it is highly classified as severe. Iron deficiency anemia is, therefore, a matter of health concern for governments and healthcare providers in these regions. Causes of Iron Deficiency Anemia Inadequate Iron Intake Lack of iron in the body is the main cause of IDA and is the main cause of 50% of cases of iron deficiency anemia. reported cases (World Health Organization, n.d.). Iron deficiency is caused by a low intake of foods that contain sufficient iron or a high intake of foods that inhibit its absorption. The diet in most developing countries consists mainly of carbohydrates consisting of rice, corn, meat and legumes. Foods contain low amounts of iron or irons that are very difficult to absorb into the body. Tea and coffee are easily accessible crops in developing countries; both inhibit iron, and a cup of tea reduces iron intake by 11%. A study conducted by WHO in Bangladesh revealed that pregnant women ate a diet low in heme iron and foods rich in phytates and polyphenols which reduced iron absorption in women. A similar study in Tanzania revealed high consumption of grains and vegetables with low-absorbed iron. Blood Loss Another known cause of iron deficiency anemia is blood loss. In women, this occurs mainly during menstruation and childbirth. In developing countries, women give birth at close intervals, which doesn't give the body enough time to replenish iron lost in previous pregnancies. Iron requirements in women also increase during pregnancy, which creates pressure on available irons in pregnant women. Theblood lost during pregnancy is also one of the areas where iron is lost from the body. In Nigeria, blood loss due to traditional births has been recorded as one of the causes of anemia in pregnant women. Traditional healthcare providers lacked adequate methods to reduce blood loss or supplement iron lost during pregnancy and childbirth (Isah A, 2013). Parasitic Infections Due to low levels of sanitation, worm infections are prevalent in developing countries. Babies who crawl and eat from undisinfected sources or uncooked foods are the most affected by this cause (Isah A, 2013). Worms such as hookworms and schistosomes are the most common indicators of iron deficiency anemia. The worms cause significant blood loss in their hosts, leading to iron deficiency. A World Health Organization in Nepal found that as cases of hookworm infection increased, cases of anemia also increased. Chronic infections and pregnancy Chronic infections and pregnancy increase the body's need for iron. Due to long periods of infection, the body needs more hemoglobin to transport oxygen to increase energy needs to fight the disease and ensure the survival of the human carrier. This increased requirement combined with malnutrition increases your chances of developing anemia. In Tanzania, for example, an anemic prevalence of 83% was related to pregnant women living with HIV/AIDS. Other diseases such as malaria also increase the chances of anemic infections. Malaria is common in Africa and is the leading cause of death for mothers and their children. Malaria infections increase the destruction of red blood cells increasing the chances of anemia in pregnant women and children. Effects of Anemia On Infection, anemia affects patients in several ways, including: Reduced productivity The body draws energy from the circulation of oxygen throughout the body by hemoglobin-carrying red blood cells. Through anemia, the production of these important carriers is reduced, which increases the rate of fatigue by reducing people's ability to work (World Health Organization, n.d.). Reduced productivity, in turn, increases poverty levels by increasing the severity of anemic infections as infected people are unable to acquire balanced dietary foods to increase iron supplementation (Derbyshire, 2010). In developing countries, where productivity is determined by physical capacity, anemia reduces the working capacity of pregnant women. The effects continue even after birth, reducing their role in economic development. It increases the level of dependency in the country, which means that a few work to feed the majority. Anemia, therefore, causes less developing countries to operate below capacity due to a sick population. Heart problems Loss of iron due to blood loss, parasitic infections, or unbalanced diet leads to low volumes of oxygen in the blood. This causes the heart to work harder, trying to pump more blood around the body to make up for the shortage. With the heart working at a higher capacity than it should, its muscles enlarge, predisposing pregnant women and babies born to anemic mothers to the risk of heart problems. Complications During Pregnancy Research has shown a clear relationship between anemia and birth complications. Mothers suffering from anemia have given birth to low-weight babies and premature births. Babies born to anemic mothers are also born with low iron levels, making them more likely to suffer from iron deficiency anemia. Anemia has been associated with postnatal depression and