Anaemia among mother-child dyads in India: trends, drivers, and future projections

AbstractAnaemia among mothers and their children is a widespread public health challenge with profound consequences for individuals and societies. While anaemia has been studied separately in women and children, there remains a literature gap examining anaemia in mother-child dyads, limiting insights on interventions that may simultaneously address anaemia in both groups. Our study examines trends and drivers of anaemia among mother-child dyads (N=408,342) in India using nationally-representative data from 2006 to 2021 and estimates the potential future reduction in anaemia based on changes in selected drivers. We employed descriptive statistics, multivariable logistic regression and population attributable fraction (PAF) analysis. The co-occurrence of anaemia among mothers-child dyads decreased from 35% in 2006 to 33% in 2016, but increased to 37% in 2021. Subnational analyses revealed varying trends by states, with Delhi showing the highest increase (17% to 32%) and Sikkim the largest decrease (29% to 16%) between 2006 and 2021. Maternal education, regular consumption of non-vegetarian food and green leafy vegetables, consumption of iron folic acid supplements, utilization of government health services, and improved sanitation at both household and community levels were associated with lower likelihood of anaemia among mother-child dyads. The cumulative PAF suggested that addressing these factors collectively could reduce anaemia prevalence among mother-child dyads by 18% to 28% (under different scenarios) by 2030. The study underscores the need for comprehensive, multi-sectoral interventions targeting both maternal and child health to effectively combat anaemia in mother-child dyads.Key messagesThe co-occurrence of anaemia among mother-child dyads in India increased from 33% in 2016 to 37% in 2021. More effective strategies and interventions to combat anaemia are needed.Realistic improvements in maternal education, dietary practices, toilet facilities and reduction in community open defecation could reduce anaemia prevalence among mother-child dyads by 18% by 2030.More optimistic scenarios could reduce anaemia burden by 28% by 2030, with improvements in education and sanitation being critical.