Your Child May Have Undiagnosed Anemia

67.1% of Indian children aged 6-59 months are anemic

This alarming statistic comes from the latest National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) conducted in 2019-21. The prevalence has actually increased from 58.5% in NFHS-4 (2015-16), reversing years of progress in combating childhood anemia.

What's even more concerning? Many parents don't realize their child is affected. Anemia develops gradually, and children adapt to lower energy levels, making it easy to miss.

The Scale of India's Anemia Crisis: Latest Data

According to NFHS-5, the anemia crisis affects children across all age groups within the 6-59 months range, with the youngest children being most vulnerable. Research shows that children aged 12-23 months have the highest prevalence of severe anemia.

Key Statistics	NFHS-5 Data
Overall prevalence (6-59 months)	67.1%
Increase from NFHS-4	+8.6 percentage points
Most vulnerable age	12-23 months
Mild anemia prevalence	28.7%
Moderate anemia prevalence	36.3%
Severe anemia prevalence	2.2%

Key Insight: Children aged 12-23 months show the highest prevalence of severe anemia across all NFHS rounds. This is when breast milk alone becomes insufficient and complementary feeding practices are often inadequate.

State-wise Data Shows Alarming Regional Variations

According to NFHS-5, some states show particularly concerning levels of childhood anemia:

•        Gujarat: 79.7% - highest among larger states

•        Jammu & Kashmir: 72.7% prevalence

•        Madhya Pradesh: 72.7% prevalence

•        Punjab: 71.1% - surprisingly high for a prosperous state

•        Haryana: 70.4% prevalence

•        Kerala: 39.4% - lowest prevalence among states

Most concerning: Assam saw the highest increase - from 35.7% in NFHS-4 to 68.4% in NFHS-5, an increase of 32.7 percentage points.

What Can You Do? A Parent's Action Plan

The good news is that dietary changes can make a significant difference. Here's your practical guide to including iron-rich foods in your child's daily diet:

Understanding Iron Requirements by Age (ICMR-NIN 2020)

Age Group	Daily Iron Requirement
6-12 months	3 mg/day
1-3 years	8 mg/day
4-6 years	11 mg/day
7-9 years	15 mg/day
10-12 years (Boys)	16 mg/day
10-12 years (Girls)	28 mg/day

Top Iron-Rich Foods for Indian Children

Non-Vegetarian Sources (Best Absorbed - 15-35% absorption rate):

• Chicken liver: 3.6 mg iron per 30g serving

• Mutton: 2.8 mg per 100g

• Chicken: 1.3 mg per 100g

• Fish (rohu, pomfret): 1-2 mg per 100g

• Eggs: 1.2 mg per egg

Vegetarian Sources (2-8% absorption rate - needs vitamin C boost):

• Garden cress seeds (halim): 100 mg per 100g - highest vegetarian source

• Sesame seeds (til): 14.6 mg per 100g

• Amaranth leaves (chaulai): 11.8 mg per 100g

• Drumstick leaves: 7 mg per 100g

• Spinach (palak): 2.7 mg per 100g cooked

• Beetroot: 0.8 mg per 100g

Pulses and Legumes:

Horse gram (kulthi dal): 6.8 mg per 100g

• Black gram (urad dal): 3.8 mg per 100g

• Chickpeas (chana): 2.9 mg per 100g

• Red lentils (masoor dal): 2.1 mg per 100g

Traditional Indian Iron Boosters:

• Jaggery (gur): 11 mg per 100g - use in moderation

• Dates (khajoor): 1.0 mg per 100g

• Raisins (kishmish): 1.9 mg per 100g

• Fortified cereals: Check labels - many contain 2-18 mg per serving

The Vitamin C Trick: Double Your Iron Absorption

Research shows that adding vitamin C to meals can increase iron absorption from plant sources by up to 3-6 times. Here are simple combinations:

• Dal + Lemon squeeze: Add fresh lemon juice to any dal

• Spinach + Tomato: Cook spinach with tomatoes

• Poha + Orange juice: Serve breakfast poha with fresh orange juice

• Roti + Amla chutney: Pair whole wheat roti with amla (Indian gooseberry) chutney

• Rice + Bell peppers: Add colorful bell peppers to rice dishes

Sample Daily Menu for Different Age Groups

For 1-3 Year Olds (Target: 8 mg iron/day):

Breakfast: Ragi porridge with jaggery (3 mg) + Orange segments

Mid-morning: Fortified cereal with milk (2 mg)

Lunch: Dal khichdi with spinach (2 mg) + Lemon water

Evening: Dates and raisins (0.5 mg)

Dinner: Chapati with egg bhurji (1.5 mg) + Tomato

Total: 9 mg (meets requirement)

For 4-6 Year Olds (Target: 11 mg iron/day):

Breakfast: Poha with peanuts (3 mg) + Guava

School snack: Til ladoo (2 mg)

Lunch: Rajma rice (3 mg) + Amla candy

Evening: Sprouted moong chaat with lemon (2 mg)

Dinner: Chicken curry with roti (2.5 mg) + Bell pepper salad

Total: 12.5 mg (exceeds requirement)

Smart Cooking Tips to Maximize Iron

• Use iron cookware: Cooking in iron kadhai can add 2-3 mg iron to food, especially acidic foods like tomato curry

• Soak and sprout: Soaking dals for 8 hours and sprouting reduces phytates that block iron absorption

• Ferment when possible: Fermented foods like idli, dosa improve iron availability

• Avoid tea with meals: Tea reduces iron absorption by up to 60%. Serve it 2 hours away from meals

• Limit milk with iron-rich foods: Calcium in milk interferes with iron. Space them apart

Foods That Block Iron Absorption - Timing Matters

These foods are healthy but should be timed correctly:

• Dairy products: Give milk/yogurt as snacks, not with main meals

• Tea/Coffee: Never for children under 5. For older kids, only between meals

• Whole grains: Phytates in whole wheat can reduce absorption. Balance with vitamin C

• Chocolates: Contain compounds that inhibit iron. Keep as occasional treats

Take Action Today

With 67.1% of Indian children aged 6-59 months suffering from anemia, chances are high that your child might be affected. But you have the power to change this.

Your 3-Step Action Plan:

• Step 1: Get your child tested - a simple hemoglobin test costs ₹50-100

• Step 2: Start incorporating 2-3 iron-rich foods from the list above daily

• Step 3: Always pair plant-based iron foods with vitamin C sources

Remember: Small dietary changes today can prevent major health and developmental issues tomorrow. Every meal is an opportunity to fight anemia.

Data Source: National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-21), ICMR-NIN Recommended Dietary Allowances (2020)

Note: While dietary changes are crucial, children with diagnosed anemia may need iron supplements. Always consult your pediatrician for severe cases.