scholarly journals Addressing Female Iron-Deficiency Anaemia in India: Is Vegetarianism the Major Obstacle?

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anu Rammohan ◽  
Niyi Awofeso ◽  
Marie-Claire Robitaille

Objectives. We examined the influence of vegetarian diet on the risk of developing anaemia among Indian women and suggest initiatives for addressing diet-related iron-deficiency anaemia. Methods. We analysed data on diet, social class, and haemoglobin levels from the nationally representative Indian National Family and Health Survey 2005/06 for a sample of 81,301 women aged 15–49 years using logistic regression models. Results. After controlling for individual-level factors and household level socioeconomic characteristics, daily consumption of meat, fish, and eggs was associated with lower odds of being moderately or severely anaemic. Our analysis also revealed that economic characteristics such as being from higher wealth quintiles, being in paid employment, and rural residence reduced the odds of having iron-deficiency anaemia among Indian women. Discussion. As a large proportion of Indians subsist on iron-poor vegetarian diets for religious, economic, and cultural reasons, large-scale iron supplementation and fortification of commonly consumed vegetarian foodstuffs constitute a feasible, culturally appropriate, and cost-effective strategy for addressing this major public health problem. Consumption of cheap iron-rich foodstuffs should be promoted. Effective poverty alleviation and hookworm prevention programs are also important. Large-scale cohort and intervention studies are urgently required to further define the influence of vegetarianism on iron deficiency anaemia in India.

2004 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 754-760 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Bagchi

Anaemia has remained a widespread public health problem in countries of the Eastern Mediterranean Region. Prevalence figures vary from a low of 17% to a high of over 70% among preschool children; from 14% to 42% among adolescents and from 11% to over 40% among women of childbearing age. Although the prevalence of anaemia has often been used as a proxy indicator for iron deficiency anaemia, this approach is not valid in settings where the etiology of anaemia is complex or unknown or where other micronutrient deficiencies of folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin A can co-exist. An integrated, multifactorial and multisectoral approach has to be adopted comprising targeted interventions to provide iron supplements to especially vulnerable segments of the population, in particular pregnant women; food-based approaches to increase iron intake through food fortification and dietary diversification; and other measures combined with iron interventions where other causes of anaemia are prevalent


2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 232-239
Author(s):  
Lorena Rodriguez-Alonso ◽  
Francisco Rodriguez-Moranta ◽  
Alexandra Ruiz-Cerulla ◽  
Claudia Arajol ◽  
Katja Serra ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundBlood loss from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract is the most common cause of iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) in adult men and postmenopausal women. Gastroduodenal endoscopy (GDE) and colonoscopy are frequently recommended, despite uncertainty regarding the coexistence of lesions in the upper and lower GI tract. The faecal immunochemical test (FIT) measures the concentration of faecal haemoglobin (f-Hb) originating only from the colon or rectum. We aimed to assess whether the FIT was able to select the best endoscopic procedure for detecting the cause of IDA.MethodsA prospective study of 120 men and postmenopausal women referred for a diagnostic study of IDA were evaluated with an FIT, GDE and colonoscopy. The endoscopic finding of a significant upper lesion (SUL) or a significant bowel lesion (SBL) was considered to be the cause of the IDA.ResultsThe diagnoses were 35.0% SUL and 20.0% SBL, including 13.3% GI cancer. In the multivariate analysis, the concentration of blood haemoglobin (b-Hb) <9 g/dL (OR: 2.60; 95% CI 1.13–6.00; p = 0.025) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs (2.56; 1.13–5.88; p = 0.024) were associated with an SUL. Age (0.93; 0.88–0.99; p = 0.042) and f-Hb ≥ 15 μg Hb/g faeces (38.53; 8.60–172.50; p < 0.001) were associated with an SBL. A “FIT plus gastroscopy” strategy, in which colonoscopy is performed only when f-Hb ≥15 μg Hb/g faeces, would be able to detect 92.4% of lesions and be 100% accurate in the detection of cancer while avoiding 71.6% of colonoscopies.ConclusionsThe FIT is an accurate method for selecting the best endoscopy study for the evaluation of IDA. An FIT-based strategy is more cost-effective than the current bidirectional endoscopy-based strategy and could improve endoscopic resource allocation.


1996 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Werner Schultink

The prevalence of iron-deficiency anaemia remains especially high in developing countries, despite large-scale iron-supplementation programmes. The reasons for the lack of success of these programmes are discussed based on the results of original research conducted in Indonesia. Studies among pregnant women in rural Sulawesi and urban Jakarta demonstrated that besides insufficient coverage of the target group, women's compliance with tablet intake was a serious problem. Compliance may be improved when it is not necessary to take tablets on a daily basis. Studies among pre-school children and non-pregnant women proved the effectiveness of once-weekly and twice-weekly supplementation. These supplementation schedules should also be investigated in pregnant women.


1970 ◽  
Vol 39 (136) ◽  
pp. 319-325 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalapana Tiwari ◽  
S Seshadri

A perusal of the literature on anaemia prevalence in Nepal from 1975 onwards highlightedtwo points: anaemia prevalence is high particularly among women and childrenand that adolescent girls as a group have not been studied much, in fact, theadolescent period is one of the critical periods for anaemia. The present studyassessed prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia and morbidity problems of adolescentgirl. The results highlighted anaemia as a public health problem in girls and its prevalencewas found to be higher in Brahmins girls as compared to Newars and Chhetries.Eighty-two percent of the girls reported health problems such as aches and pains inthe body, infectious morbidities, and weakness and breathlessness. Thus, this femalepopulation groups needs to be paid special attention for health promoting interventionprogram.Key words: Anaemia, morbidity, adolescent girls.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 12-18
Author(s):  
MANJU JUNWAL ◽  
◽  
BHAI ISMAIL ◽  

Iron deficiency Anaemia is the most common case of nutritional Anaemia worldwide and is a public health problem in developing countries; characterized by abnormal red cell count (MCV, MCHC). Iron deficiency Anaemia associated with fatigue, skin paleness, weakness etc. The aim of the study is to determine the risk factors for iron deficiency Anaemia among population of Ujjain district (M.P.). Both male and female iron deficient patients were studied from the SS hospital and CHL applo hospitals during Jan. 2012 to Dec. 2012. A group of 6828 patients were studied for iron deficiency Anaemia in different age groups. A total of 4549 female and 2279 males were studied. Information was collected about sex, socioeconomic level. It is inferred that the percentage of anaemia is more in women compared to men.


2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 132
Author(s):  
Gaurav Mohan ◽  
Gurinder Mohan ◽  
Manish Chandey ◽  
Avneet Kaur ◽  
Trimaan Singh Sikand ◽  
...  

Background: To study the prevalence and pattern of iron deficiency (ID)in heart failure (HF) patients with or without anaemia.Methods: This is a single-centre observational study, conducted at a tertiary care hospital of Punjab. Patients were selected based on validated clinical criteria-Framingham criteria. The iron parameters were done during the study including serum iron, serum ferritin, total iron binding capacity, and transferrin saturation (TSAT), to diagnose iron deficiency anaemia. Anaemia was defined as haemoglobin (Hb) < 13g/dl in males and <12 g/dL in females, based on WHO definition. Absolute iron deficiency is defined as serum ferritin < 100 mg/L and functional ID was defined as normal serum ferritin (100–300 mg/L) with low TSAT (<20%).Results: A total of 120 patients of Heart Failure (54% males and 46% females) were studied. Most of the patients were of high-functional NYHA class (Class IV NYHA n=45). Iron Deficiency was present in 60% patients with 31.66% patients having absolute and 28.33% patients having functional ID. Nearly one-fifth of the patients were having ID but without anemia, signifying importance of workup of Iron deficiency other than haemoglobin levels.Conclusions: Study highlights the neglected burden of ID in HF patients in India. This study suggests further large-scale studies to better characterize this easily treatable condition and considering routine testing in future Indian guidelines.


2021 ◽  
pp. 004947552098365
Author(s):  
Faisal Mohammad ◽  
M Sridhar ◽  
Madhusudan Samprathi ◽  
Prakash Vemgal

Iron deficiency, the commonest cause of anaemia in children, is a global public health problem. Worldwide, almost 50% of children <5 years of age are anaemic. Platelet count in iron deficiency anaemia is mostly normal or high; thrombocytopenia is rare. We describe two children with iron deficiency anaemia and severe thrombocytopenia who recovered with iron supplementation alone.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 904
Author(s):  
Jessie Jose ◽  
Riya Lukose ◽  
Thekkumpat S. Athira

Background: Anaemia is the most common nutritional problem in the world with significant impact on the neurological and cognitive development of young, growing children. India has a high prevalence of anaemia among its under-five children. The objectives of the study were to estimate the prevalence of anaemia and iron deficiency anaemia in children in the age group 6 months to 5 years.Methods: A hospital based descriptive study was done on 51 children attending the outpatient department of a tertiary hospital. They were evaluated by obtaining a detailed history, physical examination and haemoglobin and serum ferritin estimation.Results: The prevalence of anaemia in the present study was 41.2%. 13 (25.5%) had mild anaemia, 8 (15.7%) had moderate anaemia and none had severe anaemia. Iron deficiency anaemia was present in 17 out of 21 children (81%) with anaemia (p<0.00001). There were significant associations between haemoglobin levels and age (p=0.049) and nutritional status (moderate acute malnutrition) (p=0.034) of the children in the study.Conclusions: The prevalence of anaemia in children under 5 years in Kerala, which has performed well in other health quality indicators, remains high. A multimodal strategy to address this public health problem is required.


Author(s):  
Hadir M. El- Kady ◽  
Waiel Al- Kahiry ◽  
Hadeel Said Tawfik Abdelsalam

Introduction: Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is a worldwide nutritional problem; it accounts for about half of the world’s anaemia burden. Globally, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is becoming an increasingly troublesome economic and public health problem. The colonization of the organism in gastric mucosa may impair iron uptake and increase iron loss, potentially leading to iron deficiency anaemia. The mechanisms by which H. pylori is postulated to cause IDA are H. pylori -associated chronic gastritis resulting in hypo/or achlorhydria, reduced ascorbic acid secretion and reduced intestinal iron absorption, occult blood loss due to chronic erosive gastritis, and sequestration and utilization of iron by Helicobacter pylori. Aims: To detect H. pylori–related IDA prevalence among asymptomatic cases of anaemia and to address the possibility that such infection may play a detrimental role in their blood picture, serum iron and ferritin levels and total iron binding capacity (TIBC) Study Design & Methods: Facility based cross-sectional study was conducted in the period from December 2018 to May 2019. Screening was done for asymptomatic attendants of a   number of private laboratories in Beheira, Alexandria and Gharbiya governorates. Three hundreds of whom were proved to be cases of IDA and were further tested for H. pylori antigen in stool. Results: Helicobacter pylori Ag test in stool was positive in 180 out of 300 cases of iron deficiency anaemia. The infection significantly affected the haemoglobin level, MCV, MCH and RDW in studied cases (p<0.05). Infection with H. pylori also significantly affected the serum iron, serum ferritin and TIBC in the studied cases of IDA (p<0.05). Conclusion: A significant association between H. pylori infection and IDA. Screening for H. pylori among unexplained cases of IDA is recommended.


2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (15) ◽  
pp. 2893-2906 ◽  
Author(s):  
Simon Wieser ◽  
Beatrice Brunner ◽  
Christina Tzogiou ◽  
Rafael Plessow ◽  
Michael B Zimmermann ◽  
...  

AbstractObjectiveTo estimate the cost-effectiveness of price subsidies on fortified packaged complementary foods (FPCF) in reducing iodine deficiency, iron-deficiency anaemia and vitamin A deficiency in Pakistani children.DesignThe study proceeded in three steps: (i) we determined the current lifetime costs of the three micronutrient deficiencies with a health economic model; (ii) we assessed the price sensitivity of demand for FPCF with a market survey in two Pakistani districts; (iii) we combined the findings of the first two steps with the results of a systematic review on the effectiveness of FPCF in reducing micronutrient deficiencies. The cost-effectiveness was estimated by comparing the net social cost of price subsidies with the disability-adjusted life years (DALY) averted.SettingDistricts of Faisalabad and Hyderabad in Pakistan.SubjectsHouseholds with 6–23-month-old children stratified by socio-economic strata.ResultsThe lifetime social costs of iodine deficiency, iron-deficiency anaemia and vitamin A deficiency in 6–23-month-old children amounted to production losses of $US 209 million and 175 000 DALY. Poor households incurred the highest costs, yet even wealthier households suffered substantial losses. Wealthier households were more likely to buy FPCF. The net cost per DALY of the interventions ranged from a return per DALY averted of $US 783 to $US 65. Interventions targeted at poorer households were most cost-effective.ConclusionsPrice subsidies on FPCF might be a cost-effective way to reduce the societal costs of micronutrient deficiencies in 6–23-month-old children in Pakistan. Interventions targeting poorer households are especially cost-effective.


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