Prevalence and Predictors of Anaemia Among Women of Reproductive Age in South and Southeast Asia

Background Anaemia is a global public health issue that mostly affects children, women, and adults in low- and middle-income countries. Aim This study sought to evaluate the prevalence of anaemia and its contributing factors among South and Southeast Asian (SSEA) women of reproductive age. Methods Data analysis was undertaken utilising data from 10 SSEA countries' Demographic and Health Surveys. The link between anaemia and independent variables was established using a multivariate logistic regression model with a 95% confidence interval. To investigate the relationship between explanatory variables and anaemia, the Pearson's correlations test was carried out. Results In SSEA, the prevalence of anaemia among women (15-49 years old) was 50.17% (95% CI: 39.4, 61.0), ranging from 13.3% (95% CI: 2.5, 24.1) in the Philippines to 70.3% (95% CI: 59.5, 81.1) in Nepal. Being younger, having rural residents, having lower educational attainment, and being in households with lower wealth quantiles were linked to a higher prevalence of anaemia in most countries. Conclusion The findings of this study imply that a variety of individual characteristics play a role in the higher risk of anaemia. To combat anaemia, evidence-based, multidisciplinary policies and initiatives targeting women's health and nutrition, as well as scaling up women's education, empowerment, and socioeconomic position, are needed.