Anemia Control Project
The Kalanjiam Federations promoted by DHAN design and implement comprehensive reproductive and child health programme to bring positive changes in the health seeking behaviour of the members’ families to prevent or reduce anemia and malnutrition among mothers and adolescent girls. They work in concert with the government and private healthcare systems for reducing healthcare expenditure and increasing health seeking behaviour. The Anemia Control is one of the components of the Kalanjiam Reproductive and Child Health (KRCH) Programme implemented by the Kalanjiam Federations. A baseline survey was designed to assess the prevalence of anemia and related Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of pregnant women and adolescent girls. A representative sample of Kalanjiam members consisting of 205 pregnant women and 448 adolescent girls from Nine Kalanjiam Federations were selected and interviewed with a pre–tested interview schedule.
- The prevalence of anemia was observed as 89.3% for pregnant women and 95.6% for adolescent girls. This was comparatively higher than that which was reported in other parts of the state and the state as a whole.
- All the possible responses for the consequences of anemia were stated by only a few of them. These observations hold good both for pregnant women and adolescent girls. Both pregnant women and adolescent girls were not fully aware of the complete list of foods that are rich in iron.
- While more than half the pregnant women knew about when Iron Folic Acid (IFA) tablets should be started and the number of tablets to be consumed very few of the adolescent girls had the correct knowledge.
- Around three fourth of the pregnant women and adolescent girls knew about the entry of hook worm into the body and the method of preventing the entry of hook worm and half of them knew the method of treating for hookworm infection.
- Only half of the pregnant women registered in the 3rd month of their pregnancy with the government healthcare systems.
- The number of women who have consumed more than 100 IFA was not satisfactory. Only one tenth of the respondents own a toilet in their home and more than three fourth did not use toilet always.
- Little more than half of the pregnant women and adolescent girls used slippers always while they went out of their homes. Only one tenth of the pregnant women were treated for hookworm infection during their pregnancy.
- While more than two third consumed greens weekly thrice, other iron rich foods such as dates, ragi, jaggery, guava were consumed by few pregnant women and adolescent girls. Meat and fish were hardly used in the diet.
Based on these findings the Kalanjiam Federations have short listed members and adolescent girls in their families. Based on the level of hemoglobin levels they have been grouped into mild, moderate and severely anemic.
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