Background: Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a widespread public health concern, especially among adolescent girls, due to its adverse effects on growth, cognitive development, and academic performance. This study aims to review the prevalence of IDA among high school girls under 18 in Iran and compare it with global data.
Materials and Methods: A comprehensive review of Persian and English articles published up to January 2025 was conducted using databases including CIVILICA, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. The review focused on reviews, systematic reviews, and studies not previously included in systematic reviews. Two independent reviewers ensured rigorous article selection.
Results: Globally, IDA affects about 9–11% of adolescent girls, with the overall anemia prevalence near 15%. In India, the prevalence is alarmingly high, ranging from 65.7% to 77.3%, with many cases classified as moderate to severe. Contributing factors include poor dietary diversity, parasitic infections, socioeconomic constraints, increased iron requirements during adolescence and menstruation, and cultural practices. In Iran, the prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls varies widely-from 5.8% to 21.4%-with iron deficiency rates reaching up to 70.9% in certain regions. Systematic reviews report an IDA prevalence of about 10.6% among Iranian high school students and 13.9% among children and adolescents, with significant regional variability. Key contributing factors include rapid growth, menstruation-related blood loss, inadequate iron intake, parasitic infections, and socioeconomic challenges.
Conclusion: Despite lower national averages compared to high-burden countries like India, some Iranian provinces report alarmingly high IDA rates. These disparities highlight the urgent need for targeted, region-specific interventions addressing dietary, socioeconomic, and health infrastructure factors to effectively reduce IDA among adolescent girls in Iran and globally.