Abstract

Background: The program of iron tablets distribution for pregnant mothers have been conducted for nearly twenty years, however this program almost didn't affect significantly to reduce the prevalence of anemia in Indonesia. Be side that iron defisiency and folic acid deficiency, it is assumed that carrier thalasemia may perhaps play a certan role on the difficulty in reducing the prevalence of anemia.The simple indicator of carrier thalasemia are the red blood cells have oval form and so fragile. Objective: The aim of the study was to look for the prevalence of anemia and the prevalence of carrier thalasemia among women child bearing age. Method: The study was conducted in Cianjur district and represented by two sub districts Cugenang and Mande. Four villages of sub district Cugenang as well as Mande were taken as the area of study. The number of samples was 40 mothers from each village. The subjects of study were women bearing child age (19-49 years) of sundanese ethnicity. Result: The result of study showed that the prevalence of anemia was 32.5 %. and the prevalence of carrier thalasemia using one tube osmotic fragility test (NESTROF) was 41.3%. While the prevalence of carrier thalasemia with Hb variance was 4.4%. Conclucions: The prevalence of anemia among women child bearing age was 32.5 %. The prevalence carrier thalasemia using one tube osmotic fragility test (NESTROF) was higher than using Hb variance. Recomandations : It need furthers study to investigate the cause of red blood cell fragility other than carrier thalasemia, such as: vitamin E status or zinc status amonng pregnant women and women child bearing age.