High prevalence of anaemia among women in Mumbai, India

Abstract

Iron-deficiency anaemia is highly prevalent among women of reproductive age in South-East Asia. In this study, the haemoglobin levels of 2813 women living in inner-city Mumbai, India, were measured as part of a reproductive health study. Women were recruited over a two-year period at three health facilities providing pregnancy and post-partum services. Five reproductive groups were studied, and the haemoglobin values differed significantly among the groups. Infertile women and women without living children had the highest haemoglobin values ( p