PREVALENCE AND DETERMINANTS OF CHILDHOOD ANAEMIA IN RURAL INDIA: FINDINGS FROM NFHS-5 (2019–21)

Abstract

Introduction: Anaemia among children has been a serious public health problem especially in rural areas of Indian population as around two-third of population resides in rural areas, also with various social hindrance, illiteracy and other challenges. Moreover, a recent survey (NFHS-5, 2019-21) brought an attention as it showed a huge jump in prevalence of child anaemia (6 -59 months) in India from 59% to 67% despite of a number of vertical interventions across different states. This study has analysed the extent of socio-economic predictors and spatial pattern of Child anaemia in rural regions of India. Methods: Bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis were used to assess the effects of various socio demographic predictors on prevalence of child anaemia (6-59 months) in rural regions of India. Further, the spatial heterogeneity and pattern in the prevalence of child anaemia in rural regions were observed at state level. Results: Anaemic mother, younger age mother were coming out to be significant risk factor for child anaemia. For instance, mother without anaemia were 42% less likely to had anaemic child and women with age 15-19 years 1.35 times (OR: 1.35; 95% CI:1.29-1.41) more likely to had anaemic child compare to 35-49 years women. Among other predictors, mother’s low education level, high child birth order, low social and economic status, mother without media exposer were significant facilitators for child anaemia. Spatial pattern of child anaemia at state level in rural regions of India showed most of the western and central region states like Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh had highest prevalence of child anaemia. Conclusion: Our findings provide several insights into the rural population of India. The government should pay more attention to significant factors like mothers education, low social and economic class, high child birth order, media exposer, especially to the women living in states with high child anaemia prevalence.