Folate Deficiency and Anemia Among Women of Reproductive Age (15-49 Years) in Senegal: Results of a National Cross-Sectional Survey

Background: Widely spread throughout the world, folate and iron deficiencies are risk factors for many diseases. However, contrary to iron deficiency and anemia, which have been documented in depth, the prevalence of folate deficiency among women has not been well-studied. Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the prevalence of folate deficiency and anemia and their association among Senegalese women of reproductive age. Methods: A national cross-sectional survey using a stratified 2-stage cluster sampling was conducted. Data were collected from 1012 women (aged 15-49 years). Plasma folate and hemoglobin (Hb), as well as protein markers of subclinical infections, were equally measured. Results: The mean folate concentration was 8.50 nmol/L (8.16-8.85 nmol/L), and 54.8% of the women were folate deficient (