Burden of Anaemia among Women in Jharkhand, India: Does Lifestyle Behaviour Matters?

Anaemia is a major public health problem worldwide, mostly among females of reproductive age in developing countries. In India, the prevalence of anaemia among women of age group 15 to 49 years is much higher; particularly in the State of Jharkhand the situation is very worst, almost 69% women are anaemic. Using data from National Family Health Survey-3, 2005-2006, a nationally representative cross-sectional survey that provided information on anaemia level among 2777 women of Jharkhand state. Prime objective of the paper is to understand the prevalence of anaemia among women and to examine the contribution of lifestyle factors at the women's anaemia level in Jharkhand. Both bi-variate and multivariate techniques have been used. Significant insight of the study is that about 1.3% of women are severe (< 7.0 g/dl), 16.7% women are moderate (7.0-9.9 g/dl), 51.4% women are mild (10.0-11.9 g/dl), in overall about 70.0% women are having any anaemia (< 12.0 g/dl). Binary regression analysis shows that place of residence, educational attainment, religion, wealth status, caste, religion, BMI (< 18.5.0 g/dl), lifestyle behaviour of the women has a significant impact on the women anaemia status. For policy point of view effective program that targets to reduce the difference existing in socio-economic as well as lifestyle factors that influence the anaemia level of women and also their health, is the greatest prerequisite.