Globally, one in three non-pregnant women, corresponding to almost 500 million women, were anaemic in 2011. At least half of this anaemia burden is thought to be due to deficiency in iron, an essential nutrient for development and cell growth in the immune and neural systems, as well as in regulation of energy metabolism and exercise. Iron deficiency can result from inadequate intake or absorption of dietary iron, increased need during periods of growth, and blood loss from menstruation or helminth* infection. Because women of reproductive age lose iron through menstruation and their diets are often lacking in available iron, they are particularly vulnerable to iron deficiency.

Evidence has shown that daily iron supplementation is associated with reduced risk of anaemia and iron deficiency in menstruating women and adolescent girls, without any side effects.

* Helminths are a group of parasites commonly referred to as worms and include schistosomes and soil-transmitted helminths