Impact of flour fortification with elemental iron on the prevalence of anaemia among preschool children in Morocco/Impact de l'enrichissement de la farine en fer elementaire sur la prevalence de l'anemie chez les enfants en age prescolaire au Maroc

Anaemia is a public health problem in Morocco. To limit this problem, Morocco developed a national programme based on fortification of flour with electrolytic elemental iron. To evaluate the programme's impact on the prevalence of anaemia in children between 2 and 5 years, 4 surveys were conducted, between 2006 and 2008, throughout the country. The results showed a significant improvement in the mean rate of haemoglobin accompanied by a significant decrease in the prevalence of anaemia. This improvement appears to be the result of several mutually reinforcing actions in addition to the fortification of flour with iron, including the promotion of a diversified diet rich in micronutrients and the promotion of public health measures. L'anemie represente un probleme de sante publique au Maroc. Pour remedier a ce probleme, le Maroc a developpe un programme national base sur l'enrichissement de la farine en fer elementaire electrolytique. Afin d'evaluer l'impact de ce programme sur la prevalence de l'anemie chez les enfants ages entre 2 et 5 ans, quatre enquetes ont ete menees entre 2006 et 2008 a travers tout le pays. Les resultats ont montre une amelioration significative du taux moyen de l'hemoglobine accompagnee d'une diminution significative de la prevalence de l'anemie. Cette amelioration semble etre le resultat de plusieurs actions synergiques regroupant en plus de l'enrichissement de la farine en fer, la promotion d'une alimentation diversifiee riche en micronutriments ainsi que la promotion de mesures de sante publique.