Field Stories
Ten inspiring global nutrition stories
December 17, 2024
Micronutrient deficiencies during pregnancy remain a major contributor to adverse and newborn outcomes, and iron and folic acid supplementation (IFAS) has long been the standard of care in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This study assesses the health and economic impact of replacing IFAS with multiple micronutrient supplementation (MMS), incorporating updated procurement data that reflects substantial recent reductions in MMS costs.
Using modelling across 25 high-burden LMICs, the authors estimate that transitioning to MMS would avert millions of cases of low birthweight, hundred of thousands of stillbirths, and over half a million cases of neonatal deaths over five years. The analysis shows that MMS is highly cost-effective across scenarios, with program costs representing a small share of current nutrition spending and generating large economic returns, providing a compelling case for replacing IFAS with MMS in antenatal care programs.