Malawi 2015-16

Trends: Anaemia prevalence among women fell
from 44% in 2004 to 29% in 2010. However,
between the 2010 and 2015-16 MDHS, the
prevalence increased slightly to 33% (Figure 11.8).
Patterns by background characteristics
• The percentage of women who have never had a
child and who have anaemia is higher than those
who have had one or more children (38%
compared with 30-32%) (Table 11.12).
• Anaemia varies by maternity status - 45% of
women who are pregnant are anaemic compared
with 30% who are breastfeeding and 33% who
are neither pregnant nor breastfeeding.
Figure 11.8 Trends in anaemia status
among women
44
2
11
32
Percentage of women age 15-49
29
1
7
22
33
1
7
25
2004 2010 2015-16
Severe
Moderate
Mild
• Women living in urban areas are slightly more likely to be anaemic (36%) than those living in rural
areas (32%).
11.8 MICRONUTRIENT INTAKE AMONG MOTHERS
Pregnant women should take iron supplements, eat iron-rich foods, and prevent parasites to prevent
anaemia. The 2015-16 MDHS included questions to ascertain whether mothers had received iron
supplements and/or took deworming medication during their most recent pregnancy. Only one-third of
women took iron supplements for 90 days or more, as recommended, during their pregnancy. Eleven
percent of women did not take any iron supplements. Fifty-two percent of women took deworming
medication (Table 11.13).
Patterns by background characteristics
• Intake of iron supplements for 90 days or more was highest among women with more than secondary
education (50%) and lowest among women with no education (24%).
• The percentage of women who took deworming medication decreased with increasing age: 54% of
women age 15-29 took deworming medication compared with 43% of women age 40-49.
LIST OF TABLES
For more information on nutrition of children and adults, see the following tables:
• Table 11.1 Nutritional status of children
• Table 11.2 Initial breastfeeding
• Table 11.3 Breastfeeding status according to age
• Table 11.4 Median duration of breastfeeding
• Table 11.5 Foods and liquids consumed by children in the day or night before the interview
• Table 11.6 Minimum acceptable diet
• Table 11.7 Prevalence of anaemia in children
• Table 11.8 Presence of iodised salt in household
• Table 11.9 Micronutrient intake among children
• Table 11.10 Therapeutic and supplemental foods
• Table 11.11 Nutritional status of women
• Table 11.12 Prevalence of anaemia in women
• Table 11.13 Micronutrient intake among mothers
Nutrition of Children and Women • 169