TY - JOUR AU - Saji, Aswathi AU - Baby, Jeswin AU - Kurpad, Anura V AU - Thomas, Tinku PY - 2021/09/30 Y2 - 2024/03/28 TI - Re-evaluating the need for universal iron supplementation in pregnant Indian women in the light of gestational age specific low hemoglobin prevalence JF - Indian Journal of Community Health JA - Indian J Community Health VL - 33 IS - 3 SE - Original Article DO - 10.47203/IJCH.2021.v33i03.005 UR - https://iapsmupuk.org/journal/index.php/IJCH/article/view/2145 SP - 435 - 439 AB - <p><strong>Background</strong>: Anemia prevalence among Indian pregnant women in 2015-16 was 50.4% and has not declined from 49.7% in 1998-99 despite the national policies on iron-folic acid supplementation. New gestational age-specific cut-offs (INTERGROWTH cut-off) for risk of low Hemoglobin (Hb) have been identified. <strong>Aims and objectives</strong>: Compare prevalences of low Hb  based on WHO and INTERGROWTH cut-offs <strong>Methods</strong>: The prevalence of anemia/low Hb among pregnant women in trimesters 2 and 3 from NFHS-4 data were estimated using the current WHO recommendations and the INTERGROWTH cut-offs. <strong>Results</strong>: Prevalence of low Hb by the INTERGROWTH cut-off was 28.1%(95% CI:26.9-29.4) and 21.7%(95% CI:20.6-22.9) in trimesters 2 and 3. Anemia prevalence by WHO cut-off was much higher at 41.2%(95% CI:39.8-42.5) and 54.8%(95 CI:53.2-56.3) in trimesters 2 and 3. The prevalence of low-Hb was similar between ANC and no-ANC reported groups in both trimesters (26.1% and 28.9% in trimester-2; 20.1% and 22.4% in trimester-3). <strong>Conclusion</strong>: The  prevalence of low-Hb with gestational age specific cut-offs is much lower compared to earlier estimates using WHO cut-off. The universal iron supplementation program for pregnant women in India need to be re-examined in this light and a tragetter Hb testing based supplementation may be more beneficial in reducing anemia prevalence.</p> ER -