Low prevalence of anaemia among the wives of serving personnel in a military station: A community-based study.

BACKGROUND: Various studies in India have reported the prevalence of anaemia to be more than 50% among women of the reproductive age group. A community-based study was done to find out the prevalence of anaemia in non-pregnant, non-lactating wives of serving soldiers in a military station.

METHODS: It was a cross-sectional study. The sample size was 600. Venous blood was collected for haemoglobin and ferritin levels. Analysis was done by SPSS 20.

RESULTS: The mean age at marriage was 19.8 years (SD + 2.76). The average age at first childbirth was 20.88 years. Major symptoms reported were weakness (24.34%), giddiness (23.47%), fatigue (20.17%) and heavy bleeding (3.13%). Prevalence of anaemia in our study was 13.9%, which is much below the national prevalence. Prevalence of iron-deficient status was reported in 153 (26%) individuals. Out of these, 81 subjects were non-anaemic (Hb > 12d/dL) but were iron deficient (ferritin <15 μg/L). Sixty out of these 81 subjects reported presence of fatigue and 36 had weakness. Statistically significant associated observations of anaemia were low Body Mass Index, irregular menstrual pattern, shortened menstrual cycle and increased duration of bleeding (p < 0.05). Low ferritin levels were significantly associated with low BMI, not using Oral Contraceptive Pills and bleeding for more than 3 days during menstrual cycle (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION: The scenario of low prevalence of anaemia in women under the cover of the Armed Forces Medical Services represents an 'island of excellence'.