Anaemia prevalence in eight states found to be overstated

Anaemia prevalence in eight states found to be overstated

Subject: Science and tech

Section: Health

Why in news: Study across 8 states found that prevalence of Anaemia has been overestimated by previous National family Health survey (NFHS-5)

More about News:

• NFHS Survey measured the hemoglobin using finger prick based capillary blood, these methods underestimate the true blood cells count in capillary blood than venous blood methods
• This lower reading of Haemoglobin due to tissue fluid get mixed with capillary blood while drawing the blood samples leading to dilution thus lower reading of Haemoglobin

Finding of study:

Assam is highest Anaemia prevalence 69% (78.3% Women) and lowest Meghalaya 12.1 % (14.6% for women)

The Iron Deficiency for whole group was just 18.4% , only 25% of women anaemic women(42%) have iron deficiency

Biased in treatment :

• Thoughanaemia is caused by multiple factors like vitamin B 12 and folate deficiency and inflation
• But it is generally believed Iron deficiency as cause of anaemia so focus primarily on treatment of iron deficiency
• Danger of excess iron intake cause oxidative stress on all organs as it is not easy to excrete

Way forward:

• Focus should be on reducing inflammation by consumption of fruits and vegetables
• Diversifying diets to improve intake of all nutrients
• With climate change the nutritional content in cereal decline so we need to diversify from cereal to millets

Anaemia Mukt Bharat

Anaemia Mukt Bharat strategy is focused on benefitting six target beneficiary groups, through six interventions and six institutional mechanisms to achieve the envisaged target of anaemia reduction under the POSHAN Abhiyaan.

Key highlights of the strategy

• Provision of supervised biweekly iron-folic acid(IFA) supplementation by the ASHA for all under-five children
• Weekly IFA supplementation for 5-10 years old children
• Annual/biannual deworming (children and adolescents)
• Point of care testing(POCT) and treatment for in-school adolescents and pregnant women using newer technologies
• Establishing institutional mechanisms for advanced research in anaemia
• Addressing non-nutritional causes of anaemia and
• Setting a comprehensive communication strategy including mass/mid media/social media communication material (radio and TV spots, posters, job-aids, interpersonal communication material