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OBJECTIVES: to investigate the prevalence of and factors associated with the occurrence of anemia in indigenous Surui women aged between 15 and 49 years. METHODS: a cross-sectional study was carried out based on the 2005 census of Sete de Setembro indigenous territory in the Brazilian State of Rondônia. Hemoglobin measurement (Hb) was carried out using a portable β-hemoglobinometer. The cut-off points for anemia were Hb <12.0 g/dL in non-pregnant women and Hb <11.0 g/dL in pregnant women. Demographic and socio-economic data were gathered using a standardized questionnaire. The first stage of statistical analysis included the: chi-square; the chi-square linear tendency test; Student's t; a test for linearity and analysis of variance. In the second stage, the final logistic model was adjusted. RESULTS: the overall prevalence of anemia in non-pregnant women was 67.3% and, in pregnant women, 81.8%. Multivariate analysis showed that women with one or two anemic children aged between 6 and 35 months were three times more likely to be anemic; women from the lowest socio-economic stratum were 3.5 times more likely to be anemic. The likelihood of a Surui woman of low socio-economic status being anemic was 26% higher than that of one from the highest socio-economic stratum. CONCLUSIONS: anemia is a serious health problem among Surui women and is influenced by household factors, such as having children with anemia and socio-economic circumstances. It is suggested that measures to treat and prevent anemia among the Surui take these factors into account. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]