Characterisation of anaemia amongst school going adolescent girls in rural Haryana, India

Objective: High burden of anaemia exists amongst rural adolescent girls in India. The objective of this study was to characterise anaemia in school going adolescent girls in rural Haryana, India. Design: Linear and multiple logistic regression analysis of data collected prior to an intervention trial was conducted. Participants were classified into anaemic (haemoglobin <12 g/dl) and non-anaemic group and were further classified into deficiencies of Fe, folate or vitamin B-12, mixed, anaemia of other causes and inflammation. Setting: Three schools in Ballabgarh block of Faridabad District, Haryana, India. Participants: One hundered and ninety-eight non-anaemic and 202 anaemic adolescent girls (12-19 years). Results: Anaemic girls had 29 center dot 6 % Fe deficiency, 28 center dot 1 % folate or vitamin B-12 deficiency, 15 center dot 8 % mixed deficiency and 9 center dot 7 % acute inflammation. Anaemia of other causes was found in 16 center dot 8 % of the anaemic participants. Girls with Fe and isolated folate deficiency had 2 center dot 5 times and four times higher odds of developing anaemia, respectively, as compared with non-anaemic girls. Fe deficiency with no anaemia was found amongst 11 % non-anaemic girls. Non-anaemic girls had a high prevalence of combined deficiency of folate or vitamin B-12 (29 center dot 5 %) and acute inflammation (14 center dot 4 %). Conclusions: The current strategy of Fe and folic acid supplementation alone will not suffice for achieving the desired reduction in the prevalence of anaemia as unknown causes and anaemia of inflammation contribute to a substantial proportion of anaemia. Integrating other nutrition-specific components like improving water, sanitation and hygiene practices with the ongoing micronutrient supplementation program will comprehensively tackle anaemia. Unknown causes of anaemia warrant further research.