Women are more vulnerable to anaemia than men

Jane Adhiambo has been suffering from anaemia for ten years now and doctors have advised her to eat specific foods to overcome her health challenge.

Adhiambo is among many other women who suffer from anaemia.

Anaemia results from shortage of one or more vital nutrients, iron, folic acid, vitamins, trace elements and proteins. Medical experts say this condition arises from low intake or poor absorption of nutrients, chronic blood loss and some diseases. In many cases, nutrients intake is poor because low food intake.

In addition to those who go hungry, millions more suffer or lack specific nutrients. Research indicates that women are particularly vulnerable to anaemia because traditionally they eat last and least.

“In anaemia, the haemoglobin content of the blood, which carries oxygen to the body’s cells, is less than 11 g/dl,” says Dr Nicholas Ochieng of Kenyatta National Hospital.

“In the early stage of the disease, there may be no symptoms but as haemoglobin concentration continues to fall, oxygen supply to vital organs also declines.”

He explains, “There is a feeling of general weakness, tiredness, dizziness and headaches. Eventually, body tissues become starved of oxygen. The common belief that anaemic women are pale is only partly true because it is not apparent until the condition is severe and haemoglobin is less than 7 g/dl.”

Women are vulnerable to anaemia because physically they need more iron than men. From puberty until menopause they have a high demand for blood-forming nutrients.

An adult man needs 1.1mg of iron daily compared with twice as much for a woman, even when she is not pregnant. During pregnancy, growth of the foetus and placenta, and the larger amount of circulating blood in the expectant mother, leads to an increase in the need for nutrients — especially iron and folic acid.

To boost the iron levels in the blood, there are some minor but crucial adjustment to help out. For example, iron absorption is hindered by drinking tea and coffee with meals.

The problem of nutritional anaemia is compounded in many areas by tropical diseases such as malaria and parasitic-infestations such as hook worms, which increase both the incidence and severity of anaemia, experts say. The long-term solution is to ensure adequate nutrition for girls and young women before they become pregnant.

Dr Ochieng advises, “In addition, women need to eat red meats or dark green leafy vegetables and dried beans together with tubers or fresh fruits.”

This should be combined with medical treatment for those who are already anaemic.