Iron Deficiency Anemia in Adolescent Girls: A Comparative Review of Prevalence in Iran and Global Contexts

Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a widespread public health concern, especially among adolescent girls, due to its adverse effects on growth, cognitive development, and academic performance. This study aims to review the prevalence of IDA among high school girls under ۱۸ in Iran and compare it with global data.Materials and Methods: A comprehensive review of Persian and English articles published up to January ۲۰۲۵ was conducted using databases including CIVILICA, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The review focused on reviews, systematic reviews, and studies not previously included in systematic reviews. Two independent reviewers ensured rigorous article selection.Results: Globally, IDA affects about ۹–۱۱% of adolescent girls, with the overall anemia prevalence near ۱۵%. In India, the prevalence is alarmingly high, ranging from ۶۵.۷% to ۷۷.۳%, with many cases classified as moderate to severe. Contributing factors include poor dietary diversity, parasitic infections, socioeconomic constraints, increased iron requirements during adolescence and menstruation, and cultural practices. In Iran, the prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls varies widely-from ۵.۸% to ۲۱.۴%-with iron deficiency rates reaching up to ۷۰.۹% in certain regions. Systematic reviews report an IDA prevalence of about ۱۰.۶% among Iranian high school students and ۱۳.۹% among children and adolescents, with significant regional variability. Key contributing factors include rapid growth, menstruation-related blood loss, inadequate iron intake, parasitic infections, and socioeconomic challenges.Conclusion: Despite lower national averages compared to high-burden countries like India, some Iranian provinces report alarmingly high IDA rates. These disparities highlight the urgent need for targeted, region-specific interventions addressing dietary, socioeconomic, and health infrastructure factors to effectively reduce IDA among adolescent girls in Iran and globally.

کلیدواژه ها:

Anemia ، Adolescent ، Iran ، iron deficiency ، Prevalence ، Global