Background
micronutrient deficiencies, Anemia, adolescents, anemia
IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA, ANEMIA, ANEMIA
An estimate of 1.3 billion adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 years make up the global population, with more than 90% of them living in low and middle-income nations [The negative health impacts of anemia at such a crucial age in development can transcend to adulthood and lead to higher risks of maternal mortality and poor pregnancy outcome among girls [Anemia among adolescents is common possibly due to limited access to fruits, vegetables, and animal-source foods as a consequence of food insecurity [As school attendance and performance are important determinants of career chances and long-term economic prospects for adolescents and their future families, addressing their nutritional needs is a crucial investment in their futures by improving their learning capacity. The school setting has been shown to be a cost-effective platform to address micronutrient deficiencies especially given economic losses from iron deficiency anemia (Shekar et al., 2017). However, in Zanzibar, there is lack of evidence to support the design and rollout of such intervention. We conducted a baseline survey to determine the burden of anemia and its determinants among adolescents in Zanzibar. This assessment is crucial for effective public health planning, intervention design, monitoring and evaluation, and improving health outcomes in this population. It provides valuable insights for policymakers and healthcare professionals to allocate resources, design targeted interventions, track progress, and address the specific needs and challenges of adolescents in reducing anemia rates and associated health risks.This is in preparation of a cluster-randomized trial to determine the best school-based micronutrient supplementation program to prevent anemia. Findings from this study will provide an understanding of the prevalence of anemia and factors that are associated with it hence generate evidence for the design and rollout of interventions among adolescents.