Lok Sabha Question No. 3971 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-19
Subject: Anemia Among Pregnant Women
Ministry: HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
Asked by: Ramcharan Bohra

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3971 TO BE ANSWERED ON 19 TH March, 2021

## ANEMIA AMONG PREGNAN T WOMEN

## 3971. SHRI RAMCHARAN BOHRA:

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  WHO  has  expressed  concern  on anemia  among  pregnant  women  in  the country and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) whether the Government has ascertained the status of anaemia among pregnant women i n different parts of the country and if so, the details thereof, State/ UT - wise along with the steps taken by the Government to address this situation; and
- (c) the other steps taken by the Government to deal wi h the dismal performance of some States  in tacklinganemia  cases,  including  Rajasthan,  Madhya  Pradesh, Assam  and Jharkhand?

## ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI ASHWINI KUMAR CHOUBEY)

- (a) to (c ): As  per  National  Family  Health  Survey -IV  (2015 - 16),  anaemia prevalence among  the  pregnant  women  in  the  country  is  at  50.4%.  According  to  the  World  Healt Organization (WHO) guidelines on anaemia, prevalence of 40% and above is considered as severe public health problem for a country.

As per recently released Na tional Family Health Survey -V (2019 - 20) Phase -I data in respect of 22 States and UTs, the State/UT - wise prevalence of anaemia in pregn ant women is placed  at  Annexure .  Five  (5)  States/  UTs  namely  Himachal  Pradesh,  Kerala,  Manipur, Meghalaya and Jammu and Ka shmir have anaemia prevalence less than 40%

In 2018, the Government of India has launched the Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy under POSHAN Abhiyaan with the target for reducing anaemia in women, childre and  adolescents  in  life  cycle  approach.  The  stra tegy  aims  to  cover  children  6 - 59  months, children  5 - 9  years,  adolescents  10 - 19  years,  women  of  reproductive  age  (15 - 49  years) pregnant women and lactating women through newer interventions implemented via robust institutional mechanisms. It focuses on stre ngthening supply chain, demand generation and putting in place monitoring mechanisms using the dashboard for addressing anaemia.

In  addition,  following  activities  are  undertaken  in  the  States  and  UTs,  inc Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Assam and Jharkhand for tackling anaemia cases -

- Iron and Folic Acid supplementation to the pregnant women during ANC.
- Providing  incentives  to  front  line  workers  for  identification  and  follow - up      of pregnant women with severe anaemia.
- Training and orientation of me dical officers and staff nurses of health facilities on Anaemia Mukt Bharat guidelines.
- Field level awareness by ASHAs through community mobilization activities and IEC and BCC activities focused on anaemia in pregnant women.
- Screening for anaemia in a reas endemic for hemoglobinopathies and malaria.

## Anaemia P revalence amongPregnant Women

## Source: NFHS - V (2019 - 20) Phase - 1

|   Sr No | State              |   Any anaemia ( less than 11 gm/dl) |
|---------|--------------------|-------------------------------------|
|       1 | A&N Islands        |                                54.2 |
|       2 | Andhra Pradesh     |                                63.1 |
|       3 | Assam              |                                60.7 |
|       4 | Bihar              |                                41   |
|       5 | Dadra Nagar Haveli |                                62.6 |
|       6 | Goa                |                                42.2 |
|       7 | Gujarat            |                                45.7 |
|       8 | Himachal Pradesh   |                                31.4 |
|       9 | Karnataka          |                                45.7 |
|      10 | Kerala             |                                32.4 |
|      11 | Maharashtra        |                                45   |
|      12 | Manipur            |                                34   |
|      13 | Meghalaya          |                                22.3 |
|      14 | Mizoram            |                                53.2 |
|      15 | Nagaland           |                                61.5 |
|      16 | Telangana          |                                62.3 |
|      17 | Tripura            |                                44.1 |
|      18 | West Bengal        |                                78.1 |
|      19 | Jammu Kashmir      |                                20.9 |
|      20 | Ladakh             |                                40.7 |
|      21 | Lakshawdeep        |                                54.2 |
|      22 | Sikkim             |                                63.1 |

## Annexure