ANAEMIC SURVEY – SCI & TECH
News: Warning on Haemoglobin estimation method
What is in the news?
● Recently,
Health experts have questioned the efficacy of the method being used to
estimate haemoglobin levels.
Key takeaways from the news:
1. New method of assessment:
● India
is being shifted to the new Diet and Biomarkers Survey in India (DABS-I),
launched last year to map diet, nutrition and health status and provide the
correct estimate of anaemia among the rural and urban population.
2.
Overdiagnosis assessment of anaemia:
● Researchers
had cautioned that there is a danger of anaemia being over-diagnosed in India
as it follows WHO cut-offs for haemoglobin which may not be suited to India,
because the cut-off point depends on the age, gender, physiological status,
altitude and other factors.
3.
WHO's concentration limit:
● The
WHO defines anaemia in children aged under five years and pregnant women as a haemoglobin concentration <110 g/L at sea level,
and anaemia in non-pregnant women as a haemoglobin concentration <120 g/L.
4.
Poor method in drawing samples:
● The
study by the Indian team also pointed to differences in the way blood is drawn
for sampling in NFHS. The NFHS survey
measured haemoglobin in a drop of capillary blood that oozes from a finger
prick.
● This,
as per the report, can dilute the blood and give a falsely lower value. The recommended method of venous blood
sampling, as per the report, gives a more accurate value.
5.
Anaemic burden in India:
● India’s
anaemia burden has grown alarmingly with NFHS-5 (2019-21) finding that 57% of
women in the age group 15-49 and 67% children between six months and 59 months
are anaemic.
DABS-I Survey system:
● DABS-I
is a comprehensive national-level dietary survey, which will define food and
nutrient adequacy by collecting individual dietary intake data of different
age-groups of people from all States and UTs across the country.
● The
study will also provide nutrient composition data on cooked and uncooked foods
from various regions of the country for the first time.
What is Anaemia?
● According
to the World Health Organization (WHO), anaemia is a condition in which the
number of red blood cells or the haemoglobin concentration within them is lower
than normal.
Impacts of anaemia:
● Haemoglobin
is needed to carry oxygen and if there are too few red blood cells, or not
enough haemoglobin, there will be a decreased capacity of the blood to carry
oxygen to the body’s tissues, resulting in symptoms such as fatigue, weakness,
dizziness and shortness of breath among others.
● The
most common nutritional cause of anaemia is iron deficiency although
deficiencies in folate, vitamins B12 and A are also important causes.
Issues of anaemia:
1. Affect work capacity:
● Iron-deficiency
anaemia reduces the work capacity of
individuals and entire populations, with serious consequences for the
economy and national development.
2.
Maternal and Child health:
● Anaemia
is related to morbidity and mortality in the population groups usually
considered to be the most vulnerable pregnant women and children under five.
3.
Issues in education:
● Anaemia
will reduce the cognitive capacity of the children and affect their educational
outcomes severely.
4.
Affect reproductive health:
● Anaemia
also has negative consequences on the reproductive health of the Children and
pregnant women and newborn.
5.
Other Health implications:
● Anaemia
can have significant health consequences, leading to fatigue, weakness,
shortness of breath, dizziness, and reduced physical and cognitive performance.
Measures taken by the government to tackle the issue
of anaemia:
1. Project as public health challenge:
● The
Health Ministry has noted that anaemia is a public health challenge and
accurate estimates are needed to tackle the crisis.
● This
will speed up the government's efforts to address the anaemic problem.
2.
Iron fortified rice:
● In
2021, the government decided to distribute rice
fortified with iron via government schemes.
3.
Anaemia Mukht Bharat:
● In
2018, the Government of India
launched the Anaemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) strategy with the target to reduce
anaemia in women, children and adolescents in life cycle approach.
● The target groups for AMB
are Children 6-59 months, 5-9 years, Adolescent Girls & Boys of 10-19
years, Women of Reproductive Age (15-49 years), Pregnant Women and Lactating
Mothers.
4.
Weekly Iron and Folic Acid
Supplementation (WIFS):
● This
Programme is being implemented to meet the challenge of high prevalence and
incidence of anaemia amongst adolescent girls and boys.
● The
intervention under WIFS includes supervised weekly ingestion of Iron Folic Acid (IFA) tablets.
5.
Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva
Abhiyan (PMSMA):
● It
has been launched to focus on conducting a special
ANC check up on 9th of every month with the help of medical officers/ OBGYN
to detect and treat cases of anaemia.
WAY FORWARD:
1. Area specific addressal:
● The
data from NFHS reveals the need for new programmes with an area specific focus.
2.
Universal screening:
● District
wise universal anaemia screening among
the school, college, and workplaces can be initiated for early detection.
3.
Targeted approach:
● Government
can tie up with the NGOs to identify
the regions with high anaemia cases for early detection and treatment.
4.
Awareness promotion:
● Field-level awareness by
ASHAs through community mobilisation activities
and primary health sectors should focus on anaemia in pregnant women and children.
5.
Minerals fortification:
● Encourage
fortification of staple foods, such as flour, rice, and salt, with essential
nutrients like iron, folate, and vitamin
B12.
● This
approach reaches a large population and helps address nutritional deficiencies.