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. 2021 May;24(7):1577-1582.
doi: 10.1017/S1368980020004292. Epub 2020 Oct 26.

Iron deficiency anaemia and low BMI among adolescent girls in India: the transition from 2005 to 2015

Saverio Bellizzi  1 , Giuseppe Pichierri  2 , Catello M Panu Napodano  3 , Paola Salaris  4 , Maura Fiamma  5 , Claudio Fozza  6 , Luca Cegolon  7
Affiliations

Iron deficiency anaemia and low BMI among adolescent girls in India: the transition from 2005 to 2015

Saverio Bellizzi et al. Public Health Nutr. 2021 May.

Abstract

Objective: The current study explored changes in trend of anaemia and BMI among currently pregnant nullipara adolescent women against socio-economic determinants in India from 2005 through 2015. The association between anaemia in currently pregnant nullipara adolescent women v. currently pregnant nullipara older women of reproductive age was also explored.

Design: We used the 2005 and the 2015 nationally representative Indian Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS). The outcomes of interest, anaemia and BMI, were measured based on the DHS methodology following WHO standards and indicators. Place of residence, educational attainment and wealth quintiles were used as determinants in the analysis.

Setting: India.

Participants: In total, 696 adolescent girls from the India 2005 DHS and 3041 adolescent girls from the India 2015 DHS.

Results: The 10-year transition from 2005 to 2015 showed differences between the least and most wealthy sections of society, with heaviest gains in anaemia reduction over time among the latter (from 50·0 to < 40·0 %). The odds of anaemia were significantly higher among the adolescent population when compared with adult women both in 2005 and in 2015 (OR = 1·2).

Conclusions: Despite an overall improvement in the prevalence of both BMI < 18·5 and anaemia among adolescents nullipara in India, the adjusted risk of anaemia in the latter category was still significantly higher as compared with their adult counterparts. Since the inequalities evidenced during the first round of DHS remained unchanged in 2015, more investments in universal health care are needed in India.

Keywords: Adolescent girls; Anaemia; Demographic health survey.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Prevalence trend of anaemia and low BMI prevalence across wealth categories among nullipara adolescent girls in India from 2005 to 2015. formula image, 2000; formula image, 2015
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Prevalence trend of anaemia and low BMI prevalence across education categories among nullipara adolescent girls in India from 2005 to 2015. formula image, 2000; formula image, 2015
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Prevalence trend of anaemia and low BMI prevalence across residence categories among nullipara adolescent girls in India from 2005 to 2015. formula image, 2000; formula image, 2015
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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