Anaemia, a condition characterized by low red blood cell count or insufficient haemoglobin levels, poses a significant public health challenge in India. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) has decided to drop questions related to anaemia assessment due to concerns regarding the accuracy of the current method used. This essay explores the reasons behind this change and highlights the importance of accurate estimates to address the anaemia crisis. Additionally, it discusses the causes of anaemia and introduces the new Diet and Biomarkers Survey in India (DABS-I) as a more reliable alternative.
Understanding Anaemia:
Anaemia occurs when there is a deficiency of red blood cells or haemoglobin, hindering the blood’s capacity to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. This condition manifests through symptoms like fatigue, weakness, dizziness, and shortness of breath. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional cause of anaemia.
The Need for Change:
The current method of anaemia assessment in India follows the World Health Organization (WHO) cut-offs for haemoglobin levels. However, these cut-offs may not be appropriate for India due to variations in age, gender, physiological status, altitude, and other factors. As a result, there is a risk of over-diagnosing anaemia. Furthermore, the method used for blood sampling in NFHS, which involves a finger prick and capillary blood, can dilute the blood and provide falsely lower values. Shifting to a more accurate method of venous blood sampling is recommended.
Introducing DABS-I:
The Health Ministry has launched the Diet and Biomarkers Survey in India (DABS-I) to assess anaemia and other health parameters more accurately. DABS-I is a comprehensive national-level dietary survey that collects individual dietary intake data from different age groups across all states and union territories. It aims to define food and nutrient adequacy and provide nutrient composition data for cooked and uncooked foods from various regions of the country. This survey, conducted for the first time, will help provide a correct estimate of anaemia prevalence among both rural and urban populations.
Importance of Accurate Estimates:
Anaemia data plays a crucial role in monitoring public health indicators, especially among vulnerable groups such as pregnant women and children under five. Monitoring anaemia prevalence is essential for reproductive health programs and overall population well-being. Iron-deficiency anaemia not only affects individual work capacity but also hampers the productivity of entire populations, which has severe economic and national development implications. Thus, accurate estimates are essential for effective intervention and policy planning.
Important Points:
- 🩸 Anaemia is a significant public health challenge in India.
- 📉 NFHS-6 has decided to drop questions related to anaemia due to concerns about the accuracy of the current assessment method.
- 📊 NFHS-5 found that 57% of women aged 15-49 and 67% of children between six months and 59 months are anaemic in India.
- 🏥 The Health Ministry recognizes anaemia as a public health challenge that requires accurate estimates to tackle the crisis.
- ❌ There is a danger of over-diagnosing anaemia in India due to the use of WHO cut-offs that may not be suitable for the country.
- 💉 The method used for blood sampling in NFHS can dilute the blood and provide falsely lower values, calling for a shift to more accurate venous blood sampling.
- 🌾 DABS-I, the new Diet and Biomarkers Survey in India, launched by the Health Ministry, aims to map diet, nutrition, and health status while providing accurate estimates of anaemia prevalence.
- 📈 Data on anaemia is essential for monitoring public health, especially among vulnerable groups like pregnant women and children under five.
- 💪 Anaemia affects individual work capacity and has economic and national development consequences.
- 🎯 Accurate estimates of anaemia are crucial for effective intervention, policy planning, and identifying the need for new programs.
- 🏆 DABS-I is expected to provide better estimates of anaemia prevalence and nutrient adequacy in India, offering valuable insights for targeted interventions and improved public health outcomes.
Why In News
In a significant development, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-6) is set to exclude questions pertaining to anaemia, paving the way for a revised focus on other crucial health indicators. This shift aims to streamline data collection efforts and allocate resources more effectively towards addressing a wider range of health concerns in the population.
MCQs about Revamping Anaemia Assessment
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How does the decision to drop anaemia-related questions from NFHS-6 impact the survey?
A. It reduces the scope of the survey
B. It increases the accuracy of the survey
C. It improves data collection for other health issues
D. It limits the assessment of anaemia prevalence
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Which age group in India showed the highest prevalence of anaemia according to NFHS-5?
A. Women aged 15-49
B. Children aged 6-11
C. Men aged 50 and above
D. Adolescents aged 12-18
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What is the primary cause of anaemia in India?
A. Vitamin D deficiency
B. Protein deficiency
C. Iron deficiency
D. Vitamin C deficiency
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What is the aim of the Diet and Biomarkers Survey in India (DABS-I)?
A. Assessing the prevalence of obesity in India
B. Evaluating the effectiveness of immunization programs
C. Mapping diet, nutrition, and health status
D. Investigating the prevalence of diabetes
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