Anaemia is a condition in which the number of red blood cells (RBCs), and consequently their oxygen-carrying capacity, is insufficient to meet the body’s physiological needs. The function of the RBCs is to deliver oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs. This is accomplished by using haemoglobin (Hb), a tetramer protein composed of haem and globin. Anaemia impairs the body’s ability for gas exchange by decreasing the number of RBCs transporting oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Anaemia results from one or more of the following process: defective red cell production, increased red cell destruction or blood loss. Iron is necessary for synthesis of haemoglobin. Iron deficiency is thought to be the most common cause of anaemia globally, but other nutritional deficiencies (including folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin A) [1], acute and chronic inflammation, parasitic infections, and inherited or acquired disorders that affect Haemoglobin synthesis, red blood cell production or red blood cell survival can all cause anaemia.

Anaemia is the most common nutritional disorder worldwide. Anaemia accounts for a majority of the nutritional problem across the globe and it is principally engendered by deficiency of iron. Although it occurs in all the age group, prevalence is on a higher side among women of childbearing age [2-7]. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates anaemia as a major public health problem with almost 2 billion people having anaemia below normal values. One of the most common causes of anaemia is due to inadequate supply of nutrients.

Poor eating habits play a major role in the development of iron deficiency anaemia that is an important indicator of poor health status. According to national family health survey (NFHS-4) conducted in the year 2015-2016, the prevalence of anaemia, among women aged 15-49 years is 53% [8]. Women are the most vulnerable group of population due to different reasons. The present study was carried out to get a clear idea of the different degree of anaemia among the women adult females between the age group 18-50 (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Severity of Anemia

• 2ml of Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) blood sample

• Automated 3 part analyser (ERBA H360) 

Evaluate the blood sample is collected to assess haemoglobin value of the by vein puncture in the antecubital vein. 2ml of venous blood drawn and collected in Ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) vacutainers. The sample is analysed in department of Haematology in automated 3-part analyser (Figure 2).

Figure 2: Severity of Anemia Among Different Age Groups

Research Article: 

A total of 50 participants were included in the study according to the inclusion criteria. The overall prevalence of anaemia was found to be 80% (n = 40). The majority of the anaemic girls (42%, n = 21) were having mild degree of anaemia. Among 50 females, 15 (30%) were from the 31-40 age group 14 (28%) were from 41-50 age group. Prevalence of anaemia (42%) was high among the age group 20-30.

There was no significant association between age groups and severity of anaemia. (p=0.357).

A total of 50 participants were included in the study according to the inclusion criteria. The overall prevalence of anaemia was found to be 80% (n = 40). The majority of the anaemic girls (42%, n = 21) were having mild degree of anaemia. Among 50 females, 15 (30%) were from the 31-40 age group 14 (28%) were from 41-50 age group. Prevalence of anaemia (42%) was high among the age group 20-30.

                
There was no significant association between age groups and severity of anaemia. (p=0.357). In the present study, there was no association between age group and severity of anaemia which was similar to the study done by Chaudhary et al., [9] which shows no association between age and anaemia.

In this study, the prevalence rate (42.8%) of mild degree of anaemia was high than the prevalence of moderate anaemia and severe anaemia among 20 – 30 years which were found to be 33.3% and 23.8%, respectively which was found to be similar to the study done by Rajaratnam et al., [10] to estimate the prevalence of severe, moderate, and mild degree anaemia among adolescent girls in rural Tamil Nadu showed them to be 2%, 6.3%, and 36.5%, respectively [11].

1. Petry, N. et al. “Micronutrient deficiencies, nutritional status and the determinants of Anemia in children 0–59 months of age and non-pregnant women of reproductive age in the Gambia.” Nutrients, vol. 11, no. 10, 2019, p. 2275.

2. Siva, P.M. et al. “Prevalence of Anaemia and its associated risk factors among adolescent girls of central Kerala.” Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research (JCDR), vol. 10, no. 11, 2016, pp. LC19–LC22.

3. Chandrakumari, A.S. et al. “Prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls in a rural area of Tamil Nadu, India.” Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, vol. 8, no. 4, 2019, pp. 1414.

4. Kamath, R. et al. “Prevalence of Anemia among tribal women of reproductive age in Udupi Taluk, Karnataka.” Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, vol. 2, no. 4, 2013, pp. 345.

5. Kamruzzaman, M. et al. “Differentials in the prevalence of anemia among non-pregnant, ever-married women in Bangladesh: Multilevel logistic regression analysis of the 2011 Bangladesh demographic and health survey.” BMC Women’s Health, vol. 15, no. 1, 2015, pp. 1–8.

6. Panyang, R. et al. “Prevalence of Anemia among the Women of Childbearing Age Belonging to the Tea Garden Community of Assam, India: A Community-Based Study.” Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, vol. 7, no. 4, 2018, pp. 734.

7. Selvaraj, R. et al. “High prevalence of anemia among postnatal mothers in urban puducherry: A community-based study.” Journal of Family Medicine and Primary Care, vol. 8, no. 8, 2019, pp. 2703.

8. Bharati, S. et al. “Malnutrition and anaemia among adult women in India.” Journal of Biosocial Science, vol. 51, no. 5, 2019, pp. 658–68.

9. Chaudhary, S.M. and V.R. Dhage. “A study of anemia among adolescent females in the urban area of Nagpur.” Indian Journal of Community Medicine, vol. 33, no. 4, 2008, p. 243.

10. Jolly, R. et al. “Prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls of rural tamil Nadu.” Indian Pediatrics, vol. 37, no. 5, 2000, pp. 532–36.

11. Anuradha, G. et al. Guidelines for Control of Iron Deficiency Anaemia: National Iron+ Initiative. 2013.