Anemia and Iron Deficiency Anemia in Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review of Prevalence and Contributing Factors.

Background

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is among the most prevalent nutritional disorders worldwide and a growing public health concern among women in Saudi Arabia. Available Saudi evidence remains fragmented, with single-center studies that vary by population, region, and diagnostic criteria. This review evaluated the prevalence of anemia in Saudi Arabia, assessed gender-related differences across the lifespan, and highlighted local determinants and prevention strategies relevant to women.

Methods

Eight cross-sectional studies (26,412 participants) reporting anemia prevalence in Saudi individuals aged ≥13 with both-sex data were identified across five databases (2007-2024), excluding chronic-disease and under-13 studies. Quality was appraised with the JBI checklist, and because of substantial heterogeneity, findings were synthesized narratively by population group (SWiM guideline) rather than pooled.

Results

Anemia was consistently more prevalent in women than men across all population groups and regions. Female prevalence ranged from about 18-22% in older and community adults to over 65% in female university students, whereas male prevalence ranged from none detected to 28% in a hospital-based sample. The lowest mean hemoglobin (10.4 g/dL) occurred in young women. Between study heterogeneity was considerable (I2 > 99%) and persisted within sex subgroups, so findings were synthesized by population group rather than pooled into a single estimate.

Conclusions

Anemia remains a significant public health challenge among women in Saudi Arabia, shaped by an interacting set of dietary, sociocultural, hereditary, and health-system determinants specific to the local context. Beyond confirming the female burden, this review consolidates fragmented national evidence, appraises its quality, and translates the findings into targeted recommendations: dietary counseling to address local inhibitors of iron absorption, screening during peak-risk periods, and integration with existing premarital screening and food-fortification infrastructure.