Indian women and children are overwhelmingly anaemic, according to the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 2019-20 released this month, and the condition is the most prevalent in the Himalayan cold desert.

Anaemia is the condition of having a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells or a quantity of haemoglobin. How widespread is it in India?

What is Anaemia?

• The condition of having a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells or a quantity of haemoglobin. It can make one feel tired, cold, dizzy, and irritable, and short of breath, among other symptoms.
• A diet that does not contain enough iron, folic acid, or vitamin B12 is a common cause of anaemia.
• Some other conditions that may lead to anaemia include pregnancy, heavy periods, blood disorders or cancer, inherited disorders, and infectious diseases.

How widespread is anaemia in our country?

• In Phase I of the NHFS, result factsheets have been released for 22 states and UTs.
• In a majority of these states and UTs, more than half the children and women were found to be anaemic.
• In 15 of these 22 states and UTs, more than half the children are anaemic. Similarly, more than 50 percent of women are anaemic in 14 of these states and UTs.
• The proportion of anaemic children and women is comparatively lower in Lakshadweep, Kerala, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland.
• However, it is higher in Ladakh, Gujarat, J&K, and West Bengal, among others.
• Anaemia among men was less than 30 percent in a majority of these states and UTs.

What was the methodology used?

• NFHS used the capillary blood of the respondents for the estimation of anaemia. For children, haemoglobin of fewer than 11 grams per decilitre (g/dl) indicated anaemia.
• For non-pregnant and pregnant women, it was less than 12 g/dl and 11g/dl respectively, and for men, it was less than 13 g/dl.
• Among children, the prevalence was adjusted for altitude and among adults, it was adjusted for altitude and smoking status.

Why is anaemia so high in the country?

• Iron-deficiency and vitamin B12-deficiency anaemia are the two common types of anaemia in India.
• Among women, iron deficiency prevalence is higher than men due to menstrual iron losses and the high iron demands of a growing foetus during pregnancies.
• Lack of millets in the diet due to overdependence on rice and wheat, insufficient consumption of green and leafy vegetables could be the reasons behind the high prevalence of anaemia in India.

What about the cold desert region of the western Himalaya?

• In the union territory of Ladakh, a whopping 92.5 per cent children, 92.8 per cent women, and around 76 per cent men are anaemic in the given age groups, as per the survey.
• The high prevalence in this region could be due to the short supply of fresh vegetables and fruits during the long winter each year.
• Crops here are generally only grown in summer and during winter; residents fail to get a regular supply of green vegetables and fresh produce from outside, due to restricted connectivity in harsh weather.
• However, there could be other factors as well and the causes of anaemia here are yet to be scientifically ascertained.

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