Prevalence and predictors of anaemia among adolescents in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

In adolescents, anaemia has been linked to affecting physical disorders, growth, and mental retardation and also increases reproductive morbidities among adolescent girls during their womanhood. It is believed that with increasing age, females are more prone to anaemia than their male counterparts. Unfortunately, the anaemia intervention program, such as the National Nutrition Anaemia Prophylaxis Programme, primarily targets infants, young children, pregnant and lactation women, and not adolescents. Therefore, this study tries to fill this gap and study the prevalence of anaemia and the associated factors among adolescent boys and girls residing in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, India. Secondary data analysis was performed on cross-sectional survey data from the Understanding the Lives of Adolescents and Young Adults survey. The sample size was 20,594 adolescents aged 10–19 years in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, India. The outcome variable was anaemia, and the explanatory variables were age, education, working status, media exposure, marital status, received IFA and deworming tablets, BMI status, stunting status, wealth index, caste, religion, residence, and States. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analysis were used to find the preliminary results. Multinomial regression analysis was carried out to provide the adjusted estimates. Overall, anaemia was more prevalent among adolescent girls than adolescent boys (20% vs. 8.7%). Moderate/severe anaemia was 0.24 and 0.49 times less likely among adolescent boys and girls, respectively, who had 10 and above years of schooling than adolescents with no schooling (p < 0.01). Rural adolescent boys were 1.49 times (p < 0.05) more likely to suffer from moderate/severe anaemia than urban counterparts. The odds for moderate/severe anaemia among adolescent boys were relatively higher among late adolescents, with no mass-media exposure, stunted, and rural adolescents. Similarly, odds for moderate/severe anaemia among adolescent girls were higher among late adolescents and adolescents without schooling and mass-media exposure. Prevalence of anaemia was higher among adolescent girls than in boys. Lower education status, rural residence, late adolescence, no exposure to mass media, and stunting were the predictors of moderate/severe anaemia among adolescents. Anaemia among adolescents must be addressed through effective public health policy targeting adolescents residing in rural areas. There is a need to disseminate information about anaemia-related programs, such as National Iron Plus Initiative (NIPI), through mass media, and subsequently, the public health system may be prepared to tailor the needs of adolescent boys and girls.

Nutrient profiling of Lablab bean [(Lablab purpureus L.) Sweet] accessions from Northeast India: Diversity exploration leading to mitigation of nutritional vulnerability

“…Likewise, all the accessions of Lablab also contain signi cant amount of iron (Fe) which ranges from 5.31-7.02 mg/100g, the accession CHF-8 has maximum iron content (7.02 mg/100g). According to a recent study, the prevalence of anaemia among adolescents ranges from 10 to 20%, particularly in poor nations like India [33] and Lablab can contribute to overcome this situation.…”

Iron Deficiency Anemia: Efficacy and Limitations of Nutritional and Comprehensive Mitigation Strategies

“…Anemia is recognized as a global public health problem by WHO [ 2 ]. Particularly in developing countries like India the prevalence of anemia among adolescents comprises from 10 to 20%, according to a recent study [ 3 ].…”

“…IDA is the major anemia condition around the globe that affects more than 6 million individuals of all segments of the population and contributes to approximately 840,000 deaths [ 14 ]. Particularly in India, more adolescents (10–20% of the studied adolescent population [ 3 ]) were diagnosed with IDA compared to other countries (2–6%) [ 15 ].…”

Indian adolescents’ perceptions of anaemia and its preventive measures: A qualitative study

“…Anaemia may reduce infection resistance among adolescents, impair their physical growth and mental development, diminish their physical fitness, work capacity, and scholastic performance (6)(7)(8) . Importantly, when adolescent girls with anaemia conceive, they are subjected not only to the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality but also the threat of premature birth, low birth weight, and perinatal mortality (6,9) . Moreover, babies born to mothers with anaemia have an increased risk of anaemia in the first six months of life (10) .…”

“…Anaemia arising from micronutrient deficiencies can be addressed through school-based food literacy interventions which have the potential to raise awareness about appropriate dietary practices among adolescents (5) . Anaemia may reduce infection resistance among adolescents, impair their physical growth and mental development, diminish their physical fitness, work capacity, and scholastic performance (6)(7)(8) . Importantly, when adolescent girls with anaemia conceive, they are subjected not only to the risk of maternal morbidity and mortality but also the threat of premature birth, low birth weight, and perinatal mortality (6,9) .…”