Monitoring micronutrient status in populations

Micronutrient deficiencies, so-called hidden hunger, can lead to serious health issues including poor physical and cognitive development, increased vulnerability to diseases, and losses in productivity and potential. Micronutrient deficiencies and related conditions affect people of all ages but largely affect women and children. During the  Sixty-fifth World Health Assembly, Member States endorsed the Comprehensive Implementation Plan on Maternal, Infant and Young Child Nutrition (MIYCN), where six global nutrition targets were identified. The second target focuses on the reduction of anaemia in women of reproductive age by 50%, a multifactorial and micronutrient-related condition. Target indicator 2.2.3 in Sustainable Development Goal 2 calls for the monitoring of prevalence of anaemia in women aged 15 to 49 years, by pregnancy status.

The Monitoring and Surveillance Unit in the Department of Nutrition and Food Safety monitors the global, regional and national progress of nutrition targets through regular data collection and analysis. It also hosts and maintains global micronutrient status databases such as the Micronutrient Database (within the Nutrition Data Portal and the Vitamin and Mineral Nutrition Information System), which feeds into the Global Anaemia Estimates. The Unit develops tools to facilitate data analysis such as the Micronutrient Survey Analyser, organizes country consultations to ensure that data is updated and harmonized, publishes global estimates, and participates in technical groups that provide guidance to monitor micronutrients status in populations. Outputs are disseminated through online platforms, documents, publications and peer-reviewed articles to showcase the most recent developments and methodological contributions which improve measurement, monitoring and surveillance of micronutrient deficiencies.