Maternal anaemia: A persistent problem in rural Tamil Nadu

Background: The incidence of maternal anaemia continues to be high (over 70%) in India in spite of a major nationwide intervention programme. This study was carried out in lune 1996 on a representative sample of pregnant women from K.V. Kuppam and Gudiyatham blocks of Vellore district, Tamil Nadu, India. Methods. Haemoglobin (Hb) estimations were done In a sample of 895 pregnant women in both the blocks while serum ferritin (SF) levels were estimated on a subsample of 445 pregnant women. Results. The prevalence of maternal anaemia (Hb < 11 g/dl) was 69.3% (35.8% moderately anaemic, 30.2% mildly anaemic and 3.3% severely anaemic). The mean Hb was 10.1 g/dl, Prevalence of iron deficiency was 36.3% [SF < 12 mug/L, mean SF 24.3 mug/L (range: 1.5-153 mug/L)]. Iron deficiency anaemia as defined by Hb < 11 g/dl and SF < 12 mug/L was 29.5%. Conclusion. The prevalence of maternal anaemia and iron deficiency anaemia continues to be high in spite of planned interventions implemented at the national level.