Shooting shadows: India's struggle to reduce the burden of anaemia

An assessment of the impact of traditional rice cooking practice and eating habits on arsenic and iron transfer into the food chain of smallholders of Indo-Gangetic plain of South-Asia: Using AMMI and Monte-Carlo simulation model

The current study was designed to investigate the consequences of rice cooking and soaking of cooked rice (CR) with or without arsenic (As) contaminated water on As and Fe (iron) transfer to the human body along with associated health risk assessment using additive main-effects and multiplicative interaction (AMMI) and Monte Carlo Simulation model. In comparison to raw rice, As content in cooked rice (CR) and soaked cooked rice (SCR) enhanced significantly (at p < 0.05 level), regardless of rice cultivars and locations (at p < 0.05 level) due to the use of As-rich water for cooking and soaking purposes. Whereas As content in CR and SCR was reduced significantly due to the use of As-free water for cooking and soaking purposes. The use of As-free water (AFW) also enhanced the Fe content in CR. The overnight soaking of rice invariably enhanced the Fe content despite the use of As-contaminated water in SCR however, comparatively in lesser amount than As-free rice. In the studied area, due to consumption of As-rich CR and SCR children are more vulnerable to health hazards than adults. Consumption of SCR (prepared with AFW) could be an effective method to minimize As transmission and Fe enrichment among consumers.

Prevalence of anemia and its social determinants among the male residents of an urban area in Tamil Nadu, India

Introduction

India has a high burden of anemia among the South Asian countries. Anemia has been extensively studied in the female and child population, with less attention given to males. The present study aims to assess the prevalence of anemia among males residing in an urban area and associated social determinants.

Methods

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 males (during September and October 2021) in an urban area of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. A portable hemoglobin photometer was used to detect the prevalence of anemia. A structured questionnaire was used to collect details on social determinants of anemia such as dietary practice, education, income, and sanitary practices.

Results

The mean age of study participants was 34 ± 5.23 years. The prevalence of overall anemia among men was 20.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 15.9-25.3%), with moderate and severe anemia being 5.7% (95% CI: 3.3-8.9%) and 1% (95% CI: 0.2-2.9%), respectively. Belonging to a lower socioeconomic class (odds ratio [OR] = 6.50, P < 0.05) and consuming more than two cups of tea (OR = 7.28, P < 0.05) were significantly associated with anemia.

Conclusion

Our study depicts a high burden of anemia among males. Health education on the role of dietary factors contributing to anemia needs to be emphasized with special focus on the frequency of tea intake. Primary care physicians can include screening for anemia in their routine practice for men belonging to lower socioeconomic groups. Consideration should be made to include male populations also under the National Anemia Control program.

A district-level geospatial analysis of anaemia prevalence among rural men in India, 2019-21

BACKGROUND

Despite its considerable impact on health and productivity, anemia among men has received limited attention. In a country as diverse as India, characterized by extensive geographic variations, there is a pressing need to investigate the nuanced spatial patterns of anemia prevalence among men. The identification of specific hotspots holds critical implications for policymaking, especially in rural areas, where a substantial portion of India's population resides.

METHODS

The study conducted an analysis on a sample of 61,481 rural men from 707 districts of India, utilizing data from the National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21). Various analytical techniques, including Moran's I, univariate LISA (Local Indicators of Spatial Association), bivariate LISA, and spatial regression models such as SLM (Spatial Lag Model), and SEM (Spatial Error Model) were employed to examine the geographic patterns and spatial correlates of anaemia prevalence in the study population.

RESULTS

In rural India, three out of every ten men were found to be anemic. The univariate Moran's I value for anaemia was 0.66, indicating a substantial degree of spatial autocorrelation in anaemia prevalence across the districts in India. Cluster and outlier analysis identified five prominent 'hotspots' of anaemia prevalence across 97 districts, primarily concentrated in the eastern region (encompassing West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Odisha), the Dandakaranya region, the Madhya Pradesh-Maharashtra border, lower Assam, and select districts in Jammu and Kashmir. The results of SLM revealed significant positive association between anaemia prevalence at the district-level and several key factors including a higher proportion of Scheduled Tribes, men in the 49-54 years age group, men with limited or no formal education, individuals of the Muslim faith, economically disadvantaged men, and those who reported alcohol consumption.

CONCLUSIONS

Substantial spatial heterogeneity in anaemia prevalence among men in rural India suggests the need for region-specific targeted interventions to reduce the burden of anaemia among men in rural India and enhance the overall health of this population.