Supplementation of higher doses of Iron in programmes to control anaemia is a double edged sword

Anemia is a major public health problem globally. Due to loss of 42.2 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2011, Iron-deficiency anemia (IDA) was ranked among the top three major causes of disability in the world (1,2). IDA is responsible for at least 50% of anemia and is highly prevalent in India especially among women, children below 5 years, and adolescent girls (3) perhaps due to increased needs, insufficient dietary supplies, poor intervention coverage etc (4). Anemic girls will grow up to anemic mothers and in turn give birth to anemic children. Childhood anemia can have long term consequences. IDA has been associated with developmental deficits, impaired memory and neurodevelopment, diminished physical function, depression, fatigue, loss of vitality, preterm delivery, and lower infant birth weight (5–10). These, effects attributable to anemia remain invisible but are substantial (11), as it has serious health and economic costs and may hinder nation’s development. Therefore, effective and safe interventions are urgently needed across the lifecycle. The issue has attracted global attention and for the first time targets have been suggested like reducing the proportion of anemia among women of reproductive age (WRA) by 50% by 2025 in comparison to the baseline year 2011 (12). This is likely to add impetus to global efforts in reducing anemia and monitor the progress towards it.

Choice of point of Care diagnostic device in anemia prevalence surveys: policy-level Implications in monitoring progress and guiding further action.

Anemia is highly prevalent disease of global concern. Childhood anemia can result in irreversible damage to brain and affect cognitive, intellectual, and pyscho-motor development. In pregnant women, it is a significant contributor to adverse maternal outcome (1–4). In 2011, alone it was responsible for loss of 42 million Disability adjusted life years and among the top three causes of disability worldwide (5). In an attempt to address this huge public health problem, guidelines have been issued by various leading international organizations and targets have been set to monitor progress towards its control. One such indicator is 50% reduction of anemia in women in reproductive age group (WRA) between 2011 and 2025 (6). This makes it necessary to carry out huge population-based anemia prevalence surveys repeatedly, to measure the progress and guide policy makers in carrying out specific interventions needed to reduce its prevalence.