1Assistant Professor, Symbiosis Institute of Health Sciences (SIHS), Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India
2Director, Symbiosis Centre for Health Skills, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India
3Associate Professor, Symbiosis Institute of Health Sciences (SIHS), Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India
*Corresponding Author: Dr. Dharmendra Kumar Dubey, Assistant Professor, Symbiosis Institute of Health Sciences (SIHS), Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India, Email: dubey.dharm@gmail.com
Online published on 4 June, 2019.
In a society where the status of women is poor, women face both hidden and open discrimination within family. India has always been a country with a high prevalence of anaemia. Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most common nutritional deficiency in pregnant women.
To investigate the patterns of societal differences in anaemia among women of reproductive age in India.
Cross-sectional surveyed data, which was nationally representative from the 2005/2006 and 2015/2016 National Family Health Surveys of India. Multivariable logistic regression models and relative risk were used to assess trends and social inequalities in anaemia. Anaemia status defined by haemoglobin level (<12 g/dl in non-pregnant women, haemoglobin<11 g/dl for pregnant women).
Over the 10-year period, anaemia prevalence decreased significantly from 56.1% (95% CI 55.4% to 56.8%) to 53.1% (95% CI 52.9% to 53.3%) among Indian women.
The significant state variation was marked in prevalence of anaemia. In two subsequent surveyed data, anaemia was positively associated with lower wealth status, lower education and belonging to scheduled tribes and scheduled castes.
Anaemia, NFHS, Wealth index, Caste, Education
