Abstract
The burden of anemia in Indian children, based on capillary blood sampling, is believed to be profound and worsening (67.1%) according to the successive National Family Health Surveys (NFHS). This might be an overestimate. The recent Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey of Indian children, that used venous blood sampling, found only less than half (30.7%) the NFHS prevalence, of which only one third was due to iron deficiency (ID). Unfortunately, the apparently worsening NFHS anemia burden estimate has been interpreted as an inadequacy of the present iron supplementation policy. This has led to additional iron supply through mandatory rice fortification. However, the lack of efficacy of iron supplementation appears inevitable, if the true prevalence of iron deficiency anemia is only about 10%. Thus, etiology is a critical consideration when devising appropriate and effective prevention policies. Future policies must focus on precision, thoughtfulness, restraint, and community engagement.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
