A cross-sectional study on prevalence and determinants of anemia among women of reproductive age in a rural community of West Bengal

Abstract

Context: Anemia is a serious public health concern especially in women of reproductive age (WRA) as it causes a high burden of morbidity and mortality and persists through intergenerational cycle. As most of the risk factors are preventable, a thorough understanding of its risk factors is necessary to design better interventions. Aims: Current study aimed to estimate the burden of anemia as well as explore determinants of various grades of anemia among WRA in a rural area. Settings and Design: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among non-pregnant, non-lactating women of reproductive age in rural field practice area of All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health. Methods and Materials: House to house visit was conducted for interviewing with pre-designed pre-tested questionnaire along with blood hemoglobin and anthropometric measurement. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics and test of significance like multinomial logistic regression and Kruskal-Wallis test (with post-hoc) were used. Results: Majority (70.8%) of participants were anemic. Proportion of mild, moderate, and severe anemia were 24.16%, 37.5%, and 9.16%, respectively. Different levels of anemia were significantly associated with higher age, lower education, poor iron-rich food intake, lack of dietary diversity, and adiposity. Significantly low hemoglobin level in both underweight and obesity was noticed suggesting U shaped relationship between BMI and anemia. Conclusion: Periodic screening for anemia among WRA especially in both extremes of malnutrition, i.e., undernutrition and obesity should be considered at the policy level. Year-round behaviour change communication campaigns must be carried out for the promotion of necessary food groups in diet.

Health and well-being of adolescent mothers and mortality status of infants in India

“…The negative correlation between anemic status of adolescent girls and the literacy rate/women with 10 or more years of schooling, implying that educated females or daughters of educated females who are aware about nutritional needs are less likely to be anaemic, as has been previously confirmed in various studies (Bhan, 2019;P. Ghosh et al, 2020;Kaur et al, 2006;Morsy & Alhady, 2014;Nguyen et al, 2019;Patra, 2016;Rao et al, 2010;Siva et al, 2016).…”

“…Paul, , 2020aRamalingam et al, 2017;Wen, 2012). Poor health and nutritional status of children born out of adolescent mothers perpetuates the Intergenerational cycle of malnutrition (Chari et al, 2017;P. Ghosh et al, 2020;Nguyen et al, 2019).It can push the mother in a perpetual state of anaemia which can further affect the health of the foetus.…”

“…It adversely affects the maternal and neonatal outcomes. Women in the reproductive age group of 15-19 years are most vulnerable to anaemia(P. Ghosh et al, 2020;Panyang et al, 2018;Srivastava et al, 2016;Tiruneh et al, 2021). According to NFHS-5 report, 57.2% non-pregnant women and 52.2% pregnant women in the 15-49 years age bracket, were found to be anaemic.…”

“…at the time of the survey, Adolescent fertility rate and the number of women who are anaemic in the age group 15-19 years (nutritional status). It has been contended by various studies that anemia in mothers has a trickle-down effect, resulting in low birth weight babies who grow up to be malnourished anemic child and then adolescent thus perpetuating the intergenerational cycle of malnutrition and deprivation (P Ghosh et al, 2020; . Ministry of Health and Family Welfare Government of India, 2018).…”

Effect of thyroid gland dysfunction on menstrual pattern among reproductive age group women

“…The prevalence of menstrual disorders were observed in 52percent of subclinical hypothyroidism (10,11,12) . Hyperthyroidism is a condition that occurs when thyroid-stimulating hormone level is low with free T3 and T4 levels are high (13) . The association of hyperthyroidism with amenorrhea has been described as early as 1840 by Von Bosedow (14) .…”