IRON-DEFICIENCY IN INDONESIA - CURRENT SITUATION AND INTERVENTION

Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) has a large impact on productivity, ment al performance, child growth, immunity and pregnancy outcome. In Indon esia, 50 to 70 million people (25-30% of the population) suffer from I DA. In 1995, the prevalence among pregnant women, underfives and femal e workers was 50.9%, 40.5% and 30%, respectively. Because nutrition an d health are essential to human development, Indonesia has identified their improvement, including reducing IDA, a high priority. Several pr ograms are implemented to control IDA. Iron supplementation for pregna nt women started in 1974 and currently provides 60% with 90 tablets. B ecause infants and children cannot meet their iron requirements throug h diet alone, unless it contains fortified foods, distribution of iron -rich syrup to underfives was started in less developed villages in ea stern Indonesia in 1996. Since 1996, factories should supplement their female workers with iron supplements once per week, 16 weeks per year , in order to increase their well-being and productivity. Other groups , such as female adolescents, school children and non-pregnant women a re currently targeted through special projects and through IEC, using dietary guidelines, directed at a larger audience. With the increase i n economic growth, self-purchasing of supplements and food fortificati on become more viable strategies. Producers of some brands of noodles and weaning foods are currently fortifying their products, while produ cers of ''jamu'' (traditional herb drinks) are increasing the content of enhancers of iron absorption. Reducing IDA in Indonesia is the goal of the Department of Health in collaboration with other departments, nongovernmental organisations, international agencies, and the private sector. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Inc.