Background

Currently demographic health surveys (NFHS 4) provide only prevalence estimates for anemia. There is no composite indicator encompassing interventions that influence (directly/indirectly) anemia burden. Currently existing data is not being used sufficiently to guide progress. India is committed to Global Nutrition Goal of reducing anemia by 50% in Women by 2025.

Materials and methods

Time series analysis of anemia prevalence using autoregressive integrated moving averages model helped forecasting progress till 2025. These was depicted using line diagram to visualize expected progress in anemia control based on both current- and required- average annual reduction rates. Anemia control Index (ACI), a composite indicator [0(worst) to 1.00 (best)] was proposed (supplementary files has details) and score card was created for various states.   

Results

Five states contributed 50% of anemia burden in the country. Majority of NE states showed very rapid progress. States like Bihar (0.25), Madhya Pradesh (0.36), and Meghalaya (0.35) performed poorly on score card generated based on ACI unlike Goa (0.75), Pondicherry (0.67), and Manipur (0.78) which were best performing.

Conclusions

Anemia control Index performance and Visual graphs of projected anemia prevalence allows policy makers to speed up interventions in critical areas and generates road map towards progress. Inter-state comparisons could motivate better performance.