Enormity of iron deficiency anaemia and haematological indices in Primary and secondary school going children in central rural Gujarat, India

Abstract

Anemia is one of the associated and underlying health conditions observed in large number of school going children of rural India. National Family Health Survey (NHFS) data published by Government of Indiaindicates increased prevalence ofanaemia in children of rural India. In the present study, children of government school of the Waghodia tehsil, Vadodara district Gujarat were surveyed. A cross sectional study was conducted to survey 500 children of either genderaccording to WHO gradation as normal range (12.6 ± 0.54 gm/dl); mild anemia (11.01 ± 0.58gm/dl) and moderate anemia(9.11 ± 0.3gm/dl).Observations indicated that, 20.6%, 74.8% and 4.6%children were in normal or above normal range, mild anemia and moderate anemia respectively. Overall79.4% of children have anemia.  It reveals the escalating magnitude of prevalence of IDA in rural Gujarat. Prevalence is more in 9-11 age group (56%). Gender wise distribution shows mild and moderate anemia in 305 (80.9%) and 14 (3.7%) respectively amongst 377 male children; whereas mild anemia and moderate anemia in 305 (80.9%) and 14 (3.7%) respectively amongst 123 female children. In nutshell, prevalence of anemia is prominent in children of age group in different rural parts of Gujarat.