Prevalence of anemia and years lived with disability in eastern Sub-Saharan Africa, 1990 to 2023

Anemia remains a significant public health challenge in the Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa region, contributing to substantial morbidity and adverse outcomes across the lifespan. Understanding trends in the prevalence anemia due to all causes and the years lived with disability is critical for informing targeted interventions and strengthening health systems in the region.

This study followed the methodological framework of the Global Burden of Disease 2023 study to estimate the prevalence of anemia and the years lived with disability in the Eastern Sub-Saharan African region from 1990 to 2023. Data were synthesized from a broad range of sources, including population-based surveys, antenatal clinic records, hospital registries, and demographic surveillance systems. Bayesian meta-regression tool for disease modeling (DisMod-MR 2.1) was used to estimate prevalence and years lived with disability. Estimates were stratified by age, sex, and locations, ensuring internal consistency over time and across subpopulations. All estimates were reported with 95% uncertainty intervals.

The age-standardized prevalence of anemia due to all causes was estimated to be 38,264 cases per 100,000 population (95% UI: 32,886-46,273), and the age-standardized years lived with disability was 1,247 years lived with disability per 100,000 population (95% UI: 787-2,015). Mild anemia (19.9% (95% UI: 15.6-27.3)) and moderate anemia (16.7% (95% UI: 13.5-20.2)) contributed higher share of the prevalence, whereas moderate anemia contributed the most for the years lived with disability (7% (95% UI: 5.4-9.3)).

This study has underscores that the prevalence of anemia due to all causes and the years lived with disability were high in the Eastern Sub-Saharan African region, with under-five children disproportionately affected and stagnant trend over the past three decades. Strengthening nutrition programs, improving access to healthcare services, and implementing context-specific strategies are critical to accelerating progress toward anemia reduction in the region.