Assessing the prevalence and predictors of anemia among pregnant women in India: findings from the India National Family Health Survey 2019-2021
Creators: name: Kuppusamy, Periyasamy
name: Prusty, Ranjan K
name: Khan, Shagufta A
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2023
Subjects: Cell Biology
Pharmacology
Biotechnology
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
Cancer
Science Policy

description: Anemia is more prevalent in low- and middle-income countries including India. Anemia in pregnancy is associated with increased risk of maternal health problems and adverse birth outcomes. This study estimates the prevalence and associated risk factors of anemia among pregnant women in India. This cross-sectional study is based on secondary data from India National Family Health Survey-V (NFHS-5) conducted during 2019-21. We extracted data of 27,317 currently pregnant women to estimate the prevalence and contributory factors associated with anemia using descriptive statistics and logistic regression analysis. The prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in India was 52.2%. Anemia was higher among adolescent women (61.5%), with no educational group (59.2%), those belonging to poorest wealth index (61.9%), scheduled tribes (59.3%), and those from the eastern region of India (62.1%). Further, it was more prevalent among women with a habit of smoking, tobacco, or alcohol (63.0%), and women with shorter birth intervals (59.7%). Among Indian states, anemia prevalence was higher in state of Bihar (63.1%) and union territory of Ladakh (71.4%). Logistic regression models show that women with no education (aOR: 1.41, CI: 1.27-1.57), belonging to poorest wealth quintile (aOR:1.69, CI: 1.51-1.90), and those with a habit of smoking, tobacco, or alcohol (aOR:1.39, CI: 1.18-1.63) were more anemic than their counterparts. Additionally, women with no educational group showed four-time higher risk of severe anemia (aOR: 4.79, 95% CI: 2.75-8.36) than those with highly educated counterparts. Anemia affected half of all pregnant women in India. Anemia prevalence was higher among adolescents, illiterate, poor, and tribal communities. Social norm-based interventions and strengthening the community health facilitators should be implemented to reduce the high burden of anemia in India. Anemia in pregnancy increases the risk of maternal and new-born health problems that lead to unfavorable pregnancy outcomes. This study aims to find the current proportion and factors influencing anemia among currently pregnant Indian women. This study analyzed the data of 27,317 currently pregnant women reported with hemoglobin levels to find the prevalence and contributing factors of anemia. The study revealed that about 52.2 per cent of pregnant women suffer from anemia inclusive of 1.4 per cent with severe anemia. Anemia proportion was higher in women living in the eastern region of India, poorest households, teenage pregnant women, and women with no formal education. Severity was higher in women belonging to poorest households, tribal groups, and with a habit of smoking, tobacco or alcohol. Further, women with no formal education were four times likely to have a risk of severe anemia during their pregnancy. Maternal anemia hampers the growth and development of the newborns. Thereby, anemia adds on a huge burden to the nation’s economy and health system. High rates of anemia among pregnant women could be a probable factor linked to higher rate of maternal and child health illness and death in the eastern region, poorest strata and other vulnerable population in India. Special attention needs to be focused to ensure that these populations have an easy access to healthy nutrition and the best public health systems.