Assessing Anemia Prevalence in Indian Women: A Comparative Study of National Family Health Survey-4 and National Family Health Survey-5

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In India, anemia remains a serious public health issue, particularly for women of reproductive age. OBJECTIVES: This study compared anemia prevalence from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4) (2015-2016) and NFHS-5 (2019-2021), examining the influence of sociodemographic factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using NFHS data, 684,911 women from NFHS-4 and 690,153 women from NFHS-5 were analyzed. Bivariate and logistic regression analyses assessed anemia prevalence; the Wald test compared urban-rural patterns. RESULTS: Anemia prevalence increased from 51.4% to 56.2%. The highest prevalence were found among adolescents (15-19 years). Women in rural areas, with no education, from the poorest wealth quintile, and widowed women had significantly higher odds of being anemic. CONCLUSION: The rising anemia burden, particularly among adolescents and disadvantaged groups, highlights the need for targeted, multisectoral public health strategies in India.