[Anemia as a public health problem: the current situation].

In 1990, the United Nations held a World Summit in New York, in which goals for the upcoming decade were established. One of these goals was a one-third reduction in the prevalence of anemia among women at childbearing age. Despite this modest percentage, epidemiological indicators point to the opposite direction, indicating an increasing occurrence of anemia in different regions of the world, including in Brazil. These data show that anemia has continued since the antiquity to be one of the most prevalent and widespread diseases in human populations. Thus, a number of questions without answers arise regarding the actual prevalence and etiopathogenesis of the problem as well as with respect to the degree of implantation and the effectiveness of control measures.