Citation:Amarasingha, A. A. D. S., Silva, H. J. R. L., Perera, P. S., & Premawardhena, A. P. (2022). Anemia in Sri Lanka: A Literature Review. Hemoglobin, 46(4), 214–224. https://doi.org/10.1080/03630269.2022.2096460
Date:2022-04-28
Abstract:
Anemia is a global health problem. This paper reviews literature on the prevalence of anemia in
Sri Lanka. We searched EBSCO (Elton Bryson Stephens Company), Cochrane Library, and
Medline for articles on prevalence and molecular basis of anemia in Sri Lanka from January
2000 to May 2021. Forty articles were selected. Most of the studies were on prevalence of
anemia among children and pregnant women. All the studies had restricted themselves to assess
the contributing factors for anemia in limited age categories. Most articles had attempted to
determine the overall prevalence of anemia and the contribution of iron deficiency to it. There
were only a few studies on prevalence and molecular basis of hemoglobinopathies and even
fewer on the prevalence of anemia of chronic dis ease. None of the studies had attempted to
assess the national prevalence of red cell membranopathies and enzymopathies. The published
data on prevalence of anemia in Sri Lanka are incomplete. This review emphasizes the value of a
much broader survey on anemia covering all age categories including the elderly and conducting
a national survey including anemia of chronic disease and on red cell membranopathies and
enzymopathies in Sri Lanka.
