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Context:
According to a European Journal of Clinical Nutrition study, iron deficiency alone is not the cause of anaemia in India.
Key Highlights:
- Other causes of anaemia include Vitamin B12 deficiency and air pollution.
- The study, sponsored by the Department of Biotechnology, measured venous blood haemoglobin concentrations from about 4,500 people in eight states.
- Most of anaemia resulted from unrecognized and unquantifiable causes, such as deficiencies in other erythropoietic nutrients, hemoglobinopathies, occult bleeding, poor environmental hygiene or air pollution.
Anemia
Anemia is a blood disorder that occurs when your body doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells or hemoglobin, or when red blood cells don’t function properly. This reduces the amount of oxygen your blood can carry to your body’s tissues.
Causes
- Diet
- Not getting enough iron, vitamin B12, folate, or other vitamins and minerals
- Infections
- Malaria, tuberculosis, HIV, and other infections
- Chronic diseases
- Cancer, kidney failure, diabetes, and other chronic conditions
- Menstrual periods
- Heavy periods can cause blood loss and anemia
- Pregnancy
- Pregnant people who don’t take a multivitamin with folic acid and iron are at higher risk
- Family history
- Inherited anemias like sickle cell anemia can be passed down through families
- Stress
- Chronic stress can cause anemia
Government Initiative for Anemia
India has several programs to reduce anemia, of which two include Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB) and Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS). Such programs have targeted the reduction in prevalence of anemia in children, adolescents, and women.
- Anemia Mukt Bharat (AMB)
- Governmental program for decreasing anemia levels in children, adolescents, and women.
- Lifecycle approach towards decreasing anemia level in various age groups.
- Interventions include iron and folic acid supplements, deworming, and behavior change communication.
- The program also addresses non-nutritional causes of anemia.
- Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation (WIFS)
- A program that aims to reduce anemia in adolescent girls and boys.
- The program provides supervised weekly iron and folic acid supplements to school-going adolescents.
- The program also screens adolescents for moderate or severe anemia and refers them to health facilities.
