Prevalence of anaemia among rural pre-school children of West Bengal, India.

BACKGROUND Micronutrient malnutrition is a major public health nutritional problem in India, and iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) continues to be a major nutritional problem of public health significance, affecting all physiological groups, of which rural pre-school children are the most vulnerable. AIM The main aim of the present study was to assess the prevalence of anaemia among rural pre-school children. SUBJECTS AND METHODS A community-based cross-sectional study was carried out in rural areas of West Bengal State during 2002-2003. A total of 437 pre-school children were covered for the estimation of blood haemoglobin levels. RESULTS A majority (81%) of the rural children of West Bengal were anaemic, and the prevalence was significantly (p<0.001) higher among 1-3-year-old (91%) as compared to 4-5-year-old (74.6%) children. A significantly (p<0.01) higher proportion of 1+ (OR=7.7; 95% CI: 2.6-22.4) and 2+ year children (OR=3.0; 95% CI: 1.5-6.0) and those belonging to lower socio-economic Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities were at risk for anaemia (OR=2.3; 95% CI 1.3-3.9). CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of anaemia is a severe nutritional problem of public health significance. Therefore, iron supplementation and health and nutrition education programmes should be strengthened. The community needs to be encouraged to diversify their diets by consuming iron-fortified and iron-rich foods.