Prevalence and determinants of anaemia among men in rural India: Evidence from a nationally representative survey

Anaemia among men is a significant health issue which has not been given due importance. Only a handful of studies have captured the prevalence of anaemia among men. There is dearth of evidence base on anaemia among men in India. Therefore, this study attempts to fill this research gap by examining the socioeconomic, geographic, health-related, and behavioural differentials of anaemia among rural men in India. We analysed a cross-sectional sample of 61,481 men aged between 15-54 and living in rural areas from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), conducted in 2019-21. Bivariate statistics and multivariable logistic regression were employed to assess the factors associated with anaemia. In rural India, three out of ten men were found to be anaemic. Older men [49-54 years] (Odds Ratio: 1.10, 95% CI, 1.00-1.21), men without a formal education (OR: 1.36, 95% CI, 1.26-1.47), those from Scheduled Tribes (OR: 1.48, 95% CI, 1.39-1.58) and men who belonged to the poorest wealth quintile (OR: 1.24, 95% CI: 1.25-1.35) had a higher risk of anaemia. Men who were underweight were more likely to be anaemic (OR: 1.36, 95% CI: 1.30-1.43). When compared to the central region, men from the eastern (OR: 1.47, 95% CI: 1.39-1.55) parts of India had higher a risk of anaemia. The findings suggest the need to recognise anaemia among men as a public health issue. When developing policy, significant variation in socioeconomic, geographic, health-related, and behavioural factors must be taken into account. Men should also be screened on a regular basis in order to reduce the national burden of anaemia.