The World Health Organization (WHO)
estimates that anemia affects about 2 billion
people in the world, or about one-third of the
population, women suffering the most (1). Iron
deficiency and anemia are not synonymous,
but the prevalence of anemia is by far the
commonest indicator used to monitor Iron
deficiency. Compared to other regions in the
world, South and Southeast Asia has the highest
average prevalence of anemia 56% and 44.7%
respectively (2). Iron deficiency anemia could
increase maternal mortality due to post partum
bleeding (3). Furthermore, it also could affect
physical growth, intellectual and psychomotor
development of infants and preschool children
(4, 5). In Lao PDR, Iron deficiency anemia is
also a commonest problem affecting pregnant
women, women of childbearing age and children