Females who are sexually active are more at risk for anaemia.
Female anaemia is a serious health issue in developing nations. According to World Health Organisation estimates, anaemia prevalence ranged from 35% to 75% globally, with a mean of 56%.
The frequency of anaemia is around 50% in India. The risk of anaemia is highest among sexually active females. According to data from the National Family Health Survey-3, anaemia affects 65.3% of women between the ages of 15 and 49.
Assessing anaemia is crucial because it increases the risk of pregnancy-related complications like preterm delivery or low birth weight babies, as well as burdens the mother by making it more difficult for her to fight infections and increasing the likelihood of blood loss during labour.
Anaemia, a serious public health problem for low and middle-income countries (LMICs), affects more than 500 million women of reproductive age and has a long-term negative impact on women’s health, the health of their children, and economic development.
In women of reproductive age, anaemia is defined as having a haemoglobin level of less than 11 g/dL. Some ladies have a tendency to adhere to a variety of internet fad diets in their quest to achieve a zero-figure body image.
Lack of micronutrients such iron, zinc, vitamin B12, vitamin A, and folic acid, which are linked to inadequate food intake, is the main predictor of anaemia. Additionally, extensive study has shown that a low socioeconomic status and illiteracy are significant risk factors for anaemia in females.
Women with lack education often have limited knowledge of the nutritional value and quality of the meals they eat. Women who have a high fertility rate, physically demanding jobs, parasite infections, and irregular periods are all related causes of anaemia.
Women of reproductive age who suffer from anaemia experience a number of serious negative effects, such as decreased production due to reduced work capacity, cognitive impairment, increased susceptibility to infections due to its impact on immunity, stillbirth/miscarriage, and maternal mortality.
In addition, anaemia in women of childbearing age may result in infant/child mortality as well as other unfavourable foetal and neonatal outcomes such preterm birth, low birth weight, and a depletion of the newborn’s iron stores.
For the prevention and management of anaemia at all stages of life, below is a list of nutrition-specific treatments. Try taking supplements, especially those containing zinc, vitamin B12, folate, provitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E. Add powdered micronutrients to your diet. Improve the diversity and quality of diets. Promote the use of iron pots and a healthy diet.
