The prevalence of ID showed a wide range depending on which of the indicators was used (Table 1). The prevalence was found to be highest if ID was defined as the presence of either low sFt or high sTfR (54%). However, the lowest prevalence was found if a combination of these two indicators was used (13%). ID was high in anaemic women and, although with lesser intensity, was common in non-anaemic women. In anaemic pregnant women, two in every three, and in non-anaemic women, two in every five, women had an indication of either low sFt or high sTfR or a combination of both. Either low sFt or high sTfR had no association with any of the background factors except parity (P = 0.08 and 0.001, respectively).