Understanding The Alarming Rise Of Anaemia Among Adolescent Women

When you think about health issues faced by adolescent women in India, conditions like polio, hepatitis or malaria may come to mind instantly. However, anaemia has been quietly and steadily making its way to the top of this list, posing a severe threat to Indian teenagers. Anaemia is a condition marked by a deficient number of red blood cells or an insufficient amount of hemoglobin in the blood. This deficiency robs the body of the energy it needs to function, resulting in a host of problems like fatigue, shortness of breath, and pallor. And yet, this impact often goes unnoticed or underestimated, masking the full scope of the issue and leading to its persistent rise among adolescent women.

"The prevalence of anaemia among adolescent girls in India is shockingly high, with severe implications for their health and future. We must raise awareness and tackle this issue head-on. The health of our future generations depends on it," says doctors.

Doctors often highlight that iron deficiency is a common nutritional disorder, affecting a significant portion of the world's population. It is particularly prevalent in developing countries and among women of childbearing age, pregnant women, and children. But common doesn't mean it should not be addressed and immediately.

To illustrate the severity of the problem, consider these statistics: 

• Anemia prevalence among Indian adolescent females rose from 54% to 59% from 2015-2016 to 2019-2021.

• Anemia affects approximately 600 million women worldwide, and India is home to over one-third of these cases.

From the total 28 states in India, an upward trend in anemia prevalence was noted in 21 of them. The magnitude of this rise, however, was not uniform across these states. Pockets of pronounced increase (over 15 percentage points) were seen in states such as Assam, Chhattisgarh, and Tripura, contrasted by mild elevations (less than 5 percent points) in states like Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Telangana, Karnataka, and Punjab. 

It’s worthy to point out that few states like Uttarakhand and Kerala showcased a positive narrative, recording a decline in anemia prevalence rates over the same period. At the same time, the number of Indian states with alarming anemia prevalence rates over 60%, shockingly, doubled going from just 5 in between 2015 and 2016, to as many as 11 between 2019 and 2021. 

Pregnancy anemia statistics

“Typically, when we see iron deficiency, we think of anemia, premature births or underweight births. Those are the kinds of manifestations that people should be thinking about,” Dr. Amar Kelkar, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, Massachusetts, said. That’s because iron deficiency is underdiagnosed in pregnancy."

In India, 69.5% of pregnant women aged 15-49 years are anaemic.

Test your iron

Dr. Kelkar explains that the symptoms of iron deficiency are often generic - fatigue, a pervasive sense of weakness, or feelings of light-headedness and dizziness. Additional signs can include pallor, a condition where the skin turns pale or even the whites of the eyes lose their colour. If the deficiency escalates to severe anemia, it can lead to shortness of breath and a palpable intolerance to physical activity or even exercise.

“Sometimes it can look like headaches or even coldness of the hands or feet, or brittle nails,” he added.

The tests to find iron deficiency are straightforward. You can get a ferritin level check done. Explore lab tests here.

The disturbing rise of anemia among adolescent women in India asks for immediate attention and action. 

What's the way ahead?

Physicians stress the importance of a balanced diet rich in iron to prevent iron deficiency. Foods such as red meat, poultry, seafood, and iron-fortified cereals are recommended. For vegetarians or those who have difficulty absorbing iron, doctors may suggest iron supplements like these which are easy to consume.

Medical professionals also warn about the long-term effects of iron deficiency if left untreated. These can include developmental delays in children, increased risk of illness and infection, and in severe cases, heart problems