Anemia prevalence in
pregnant and lactating women declined from about 40%
in 1986 (NNS3) to approximately 15% in 1995
(NNS4).5,6 However, in 2003 (NNS5), the prevalence of
anemia increased to 26% and 30% in pregnant and lactating
women, respectively, while anemia among reproductive
age women was 18.6% (Figure 3).7