A micro review of a nutritional public health challenge: Iron deficiency anemia in India

• Published in: Clinical epidemiology and global health Vol. 14; p. 100992
• Main Authors: Natekar, Prachiti, Deshmukh, Chinmay, Limaye, Dnyanesh, Ramanathan, Vanisree, Pawar, Anil
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.03.2022; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anemia; Health burden; Iron deficiency; Malnutrition; Public health; Weekly iron and folic acid supplementation (WIFS) programme; PMSMA; BCC; Anemia; IFA; IEC; RBCs; NFHS; GBD; Health burden; Iron deficiency; Weekly iron and folic acid supplementation (WIFS) programme; AMB; VHNDs; ITBNs; WIFS; Hb; Malnutrition; LLINs; Public health; WHO
• ISSN: 2213-3984; 2213-3984
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cegh.2022.100992

When a person's haemoglobin levels fall below acceptable levels, it is known as anemia, in the expressions of the World Health Organization. Anemia impacts an estimated 24.8% of the world i.e., about 1.62 billion people. The global frequency of anemia was 25% between 1993 and 2005. The prevalent cause of anemia in the world is iron deficiency. About two billion people across the world are iron deficient. It is a review-based article. The authors reviewed different existing research papers on PubMed, science direct and web of science databases. Authors also took help of government-based information and findings. Despite growing national and international attention, as well as current government prevention strategies, the occurrence of anemia in Indians, particularly women, has remained at 45% since 1990, and is significantly connected to deficiency of iron. Thus, being a growing threat. As a result, it is becoming an increasing menace. A persistently high level of anemia among Indian women that is about 53% of all women have anemia, according to the National Family Health Survey (2015–2016) is a serious concern, and the 2017 National Health Policy recognizes such a high burden which is proposed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. Although there are still significant technological hurdles in the detection of anemia in the general population, identifying its occurrence and severity is crucial. Many nations have long-standing programs aimed at preventing and controlling iron deficiency anemia, but only a handful have a well-coordinated plan to address the disease. The country's present health data infrastructure should be combined with a constant monitoring and assessment methodology so that it becomes second nature.