Etiology of Mild and Moderate Anaemia Among Rural Adolescent Girls in India

A cluster randomized control trial study was conducted in Ballabgarh block of Faridabad District, Haryana, India. Baseline data of a total of 198 non-anemic and 202 anemic adolescent girls (12-19 years) was analyzed for hemoglobin and serum level of hepcidin, ferritin, folate acid, soluble transferrin receptor, vitamin B₁₂ and CRP. Deficiency of iron (p < 0.001), folate (p < 0.01) and their mixed deficiency (p < 0.001) significantly increased with increasing severity of anaemia and contributed to 48.7% mild anaemia and 66.9% moderate anaemia. Anaemia of inflammation contributed to 16.2% of mild anaemia and 11.7% of moderate anaemia. More than one third of mild anaemia is caused by other causes. Current iron and folic acid program can alleviate around more than 2/3rd moderate anaemia and around half of mild anaemia among adolescent girls. Unknown causes of anaemia need further investigation.