Identifying risk factors in explaining women’s anaemia in limited resource areas: evidence from West Bengal of India and Bangladesh

Abstract

Background Anaemia among women is a public health problem with associated adverse outcomes for mother and child. This study investigates the determinants of women’s anaemia in two Bengals; West Bengal (a province of India) and Bangladesh. These two spaces are inhabitated by Bengali speaking population since historic past. The study argues that open defecation, contraceptive method use and food consumption patterns are playing crucial role in explaining anaemia. Methods Using non-pregnant women belonging to different religious groups, we analyzed a total of 21,032 women aged 15–49 from the nationally representative cross-sectional surveys, i.e., Bangladesh Demographic Health Survey (BDHS-VI, 2011) and National Family Health Survey (NFHS round 4, 2015–16). We performed spatial, bivariate and logistic regression analyses to unfold the important risk factors of anaemia in two Bengals. Results The prevalence of anaemia was 64% in West Bengal and 41% in Bangladesh. The significant risk factors explaining anaemia were use of sterilization, vegetarian diet and open defecation. Further, women who used groundwater (tube well or well) for drinking suffered more from anaemia. Also, younger women, poor, less educated and having more children were highly likely to be anaemic. The study also indicates that those who frequently consumed non-vegetarian items and fruits in West Bengal and experienced household food security in Bangladesh were less prone to be anaemic. Hindus of West Bengal, followed by Muslims of that state and then Hindus of Bangladesh were at the higher risk of anaemia compared to Muslims of Bangladesh, indicating the stronger role of space over religion in addressing anaemia. Unlike West Bengal, Bangladesh observed distinct regional differences in women's anaemia. Conclusions Propagating the choices of contraception mainly Pill/ injection/IUDs and making the availability of iron rich food along with a favourable community environment in terms of safe drinking water and improved sanitation besides better education and economic condition can help to tackle anaemia in limited-resource areas.

Anemia in children aged 6–59 months was significantly associated with maternal anemia status in rural Zimbabwe

“…This result was consistent with a study undertaken in Nepal (Gautam et al, 2019), India, and Bangladesh (Jana et al, 2022) where women in households using dug wells as sources of drinking water were significantly associated with an increased risk of developing anemia. In the case of Bangladesh, it was partly attributable to fluoride and arsenic in groundwater (Del Bello, 2020; Jana et al, 2022). In some contexts, it may be due to intestinal worm infections (Chelkeba et al, 2022; WHO, 2022) which cause gut blood losses, malabsorption of nutrients, loss of appetite, and anemia due to loss of iron and impaired protein metabolism (Pullan et al, 2014).…”

“…Results from the current study indicated that unimproved dug wells as a source of drinking water were a positive predictor of anemia in WRA, with those relying on unimproved dug wells being at a greater risk of anemia than those using improved wells. This result was consistent with a study undertaken in Nepal (Gautam et al, 2019), India, and Bangladesh (Jana et al, 2022) where women in households using dug wells as sources of drinking water were significantly associated with an increased risk of developing anemia. In the case of Bangladesh, it was partly attributable to fluoride and arsenic in groundwater (Del Bello, 2020; Jana et al, 2022).…”

“…This is, however, contrary to a similar study in India, which found that women who had their own agricultural land suffered more from anemia compared to those who did not own any agricultural land. This was explained by time trade‐offs between women's participation in agriculture and food preparation in the household which negatively impacted their nutritional status (Jana et al, 2022). The recommendation is for government to devote itself to food security programs that promote land ownership.…”

“…In the case of Bangladesh, it was partly attributable to fluoride and arsenic in groundwater (Del Bello, 2020;Jana et al, 2022). In some contexts, it may be due to intestinal worm infections (Chelkeba et al, 2022;WHO, 2022) which cause gut blood losses, malabsorption of nutrients, loss of appetite, and anemia due to loss of iron and impaired protein metabolism (Pullan et al, 2014).…”

Prevalence and determinants of anaemia among women of reproductive age in Aspirational Districts of India: an analysis of NFHS 4 and NFHS 5 data

“…Three main domains of variables (biodemographic and socioeconomic, behavioural and health related variables) were selected for the study, which are described later in this section. The analysis for this study is based on this conceptual framework adapted from the existing literature on anaemia [ 47 – 53 ]. The conceptual framework is shown in Fig.…”