Health Indicators
Programs
Download PDFSummary: Phase 2. Initial implementation supported by implementation research
Zambia has made some progress toward the international targets for stunting and wasting. However, Zambia still has persistent maternal and child nutrition challenges. A national prevalence of anemia of approximately 36.7% (2023), representing 107,500 pregnant women, indicates that more than one in three pregnant women is anemic. While 7.6% (2022) of women are underweight, which contributes to increased maternal mortality and poor birth outcomes.
Data available on the World Health Organization’s Global Health Observatory indicate that several birth outcome indicators remain elevated: stillbirths were at 14 per 1,000 total births in 2023, preterm births were at 7.66%, and low birthweight was at 11.2% in 2020, infant mortality at 30.86 per 1,000 live births in 2023. While iron and folic acid (IFA) supplementation has been available for decades, both adherence and delivery remain inconsistent. In 2024, 82% of pregnant women accessed at least four antenatal care (ANC) visits, and 93.5% received some form of iron-containing supplements.
The most recently available adherence data from the Zambian Demographic and Health Survey 2018 show that only 73% of pregnant women took iron supplementation for 90 days or more. As Zambia continues to face challenges in maternal and newborn health, the country aims to strengthen policies and programs to improve access to comprehensive prenatal care and nutritional support for mothers and infants.
Nutrition International (NI)’s policy brief shows that switching from Iron Folic Acid (IFA) to Multiple Micronutrient Supplements (MMS) could prevent 199,631 disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) over 10 years, save 2,390 children’s lives, and offer benefits 331 times greater than the cost. Transitioning to MMS is highly cost-effective and could improve perinatal health outcomes. Given these significant advantages, prioritizing a shift from IFA to MMS is essential for improving the health of Zambian mothers and their children, and the country stands to benefit immensely from MMS intervention.
Source: HMHB Survey 2025, NutriDash and 2nd Africa Maternal Nutrition and MMS Meeting 2024 Report