1. Country paper
INDIA
Dr. Amina Ather
Team Lead
IFRTK
Bangalore
INDIA
Gender and health–Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

2. Introduction
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

3. Beautiful peninsula, a subcontinent.
India is a beautiful peninsula which holds Asia at its southern region and it has stronger
cultural diversities, extending to various ethnic groups biologically originate with in the
borders like the Hindu and many other invasive ethnicities
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

4. Geographic distribution...
Geographic Coordinates
Lying entirely in the Northern Hemisphere, the Country extends between 8° 4' and 37° 6'
latitudes north of the Equator, and 68° 7' and 97° 25' longitudes east of it.
Area
3.3 Million sq. km
Border Countries
Afghanistan and Pakistan to the north-west; China, Bhutan and Nepal to the north; Myanmar
to the east; and Bangladesh to the east of West Bengal. Sri Lanka is separated from India by
a narrow channel of sea, formed by Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
Climate
The climate of India can broadly be classified as a tropical monsoon one. But, in spite of
much of the northern part of India lying beyond the tropical zone, the entire country has a
tropical climate marked by relatively high temperatures and dry winters. There are four
seasons: winter (December-February) summer (March-June) south-west monsoon season
(June-September) post monsoon season (October-November)
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

5. Socio economic distribution...
The food price spike was caused by a combination of factors (see Wiggins, 2008), the
effects of which are complex and vary between countries. At a national level, the
impacts of the food crisis depend on a country’s degree of integration with world prices
and its national production patterns, i.e. whether it is a net importer or exporter of food.
At the household level, the impact of the food price spike depends on a number of
interrelated factors.
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

6. Population
Population:
1,166,079,217 (2009 est)
Growth rate:
1.548% (2009 est)
Birth rate:
22.22 births/1,000 population (2009 )
Death rate:
6.4 deaths/1,000 population (2009 )
Life expectancy:
69.89 years (2009 )
–male:
67.46 years (2009 )
–female:
72.61 years (2009 )
Fertility rate:
2.72 children born/woman (NFHS-3, 2008)
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

7. Fertility rate
Total Population
1,166,079,217 (July 2009
est. CIA)[22] 1,028.7 million
(2001 Census final figures,
March 1 enumeration and
estimated 124,000 in areas
of Manipur that could not
be covered in the
enumeration.
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

8. Culture
Religious Composition Population (%)
Hindus 827,578,868 80.50%
Muslims 138,188,240 13.4%
Christians 24,080,016 2.3%
Sikhs 19,215,730 1.9%
Buddhists 7,955,207 0.8%
Jains 4,225,053 0.4%
Other Religions & Persuasions 6,639,626 0.6%
Religion not stated 727,588 0.1%
Total*
1,028,610,328
100.0%
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

9. Categories: India templates
Ethnicity
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

10. Ethnicity …
This tree diagram depicts the relationships of the major ethnic, linguistic and
religious groups in India. For example, an H under Gujarati implies a Hindu,
Gujarati-speaking Indian of Indo-Aryan ancestry. However this is not a hard and
fast rule. For example, in South India many members of the Muslim community
are of Arab, Iranians or Turks origin, but have Kannada as their first language.
This list excludes caste groups like the Dalits which is a socio-political identity
across linguistic, religious and racial lines. Indeed, it should be noted that the
terms 'Indo-Aryan' and 'Dravidian’ refer more to the linguistic difference rather
than racial differences.
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

11. Overall health issues
•Tuberculosis
•Leprosy
•Iron-deficiency anaemia
•HIV AIDS
•Filariasis
•Dengu fever
•Kala Azar
•Environmental sanitation problem.
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

12. Anemia
Prevalence is high due to poverty and an inadequate diet 23
 Two billion people globally suffer from iron deficiency
 87 per cent of pregnant women suffer from anaemia
Insufficient quantity of iron-rich foods and “iron enhancers” in the diet (foods rich in
vitamin C such as citrus fruits), and low bioavailability of dietary iron (e.g. foods
containing only non-hemeiron)
• Excessive quantity of “iron inhibitors” in diet, especially during mealtimes (e.g.
tea, coffee; calcium- rich foods)
• Iron loss during menstruation
• Poor iron stores from infancy and childhood deficiencies
• Iron loss from post-partum haemorrhage
• Increased iron requirement due to tissue, blood and energy requirements during
pregnancy, and in some areas, due to heavy workloads
• Teenage pregnancy
• Repeated pregnancies with less than 2 years’ interval
• Poor environmental sanitation, unsafe drinking water and inadequate personal
hygiene.
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

13. Prevalence chart .
The National Health Policy (NHP) - 2002 envisages increasing public health
investment from current level 0.9 percent of GDP to 2 percent of GDP by
2010.
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

14. Suggestions…
Iron-deficiency anemia is the most common form of malnutrition in the world
and is the eighth leading cause of disease in girls and women in developing
countries. Supplementation of pregnant women remains the cornerstone
policy for reducing anemia among women of reproductive age, because the
demands of child-bearing, high fertility rates, and breastfeeding are associated
with under nutrition and maternal depletion.
Infant mortality rate in India stands at 57 per 1,000 live births while neonatal
mortality rate - deaths in the first month of life - stands at 43 per 1,000 live births.
Every year, about 78,000 mothers die in childbirth and from complications of
pregnancy in India, according to the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). live
births.
Maternal mortality rate stands at 450 per 100,000 live births.
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

15. Unani medicine
Common Indian Unani names ; Tain ,Anjeer : Botanical name- Ficus carica LINN :
English name –Fig
Common Indian Unani names ; Shanjana: Munge ke bhage : Botanical name –Moring
officinallis LINN : English name Moringa
Common Indian Unani names ; Khurma : Khajoor : Botanical name- Phoenix dactylifera
,English name –Dates
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

16. Women initiative..
Women have the right to safe sex every time. • Women should insist and
negotiate on use of condoms with their partners. • Women need to ask for
recognition and the opportunity to participate in decision-making processes
that affect their bodies and lives. • Women need to increase their awareness
and communication skills for collective advocacy for sexual and reproductive
rights. • Women need to work collectively and organize themselves to plan and
mobilize resources for anemia prevention and care.
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

17. Preventive strategies
The four basic approaches for prevention of anemia are:
a) Supplementation with medicinal iron.
b) Dietary modifications.
c) The control of infection.
d) The fortification of a staple food with iron.
Service providers must be equipped to counsel mothers and
community members on the importance of controlling anemia. Moreover
the knowledge of health care providers regarding NNACP (national
nutritional control programme) , programme needs to be strengthened 25.
Non-vegetarian dietary sources of iron are red meat, fish, liver, and egg
yolks; vegetarian sources include breast milk, lentils and beans, whole
grains and products made from these foods. Sprouting grains and beans
enhance the bioavailability of the iron they contain, as does consuming
iron-rich foods with "enhancers" - foods that contain vitamin C. Iron
inhibitors, such as tannin and caffeine, and some essential minerals,
prevent iron from being absorbed and should be consumed separately
from iron sources.26
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

18. Conclusion..
A mother is a biological and/or social female parent of an offspring. T
he importance of a mother or a woman is a crucial step in the upbringing o
f a child with in a family nucleus whether it be nuclear family or vise versa. Anemia being the initial
cause of maternal mortality and also the infant mortality steps to be strategically planned so as to
meet the demands.
A complete health education policy to be implementing the rules towards the nutritional analysis
would give way a new room for the faster effect of the nutritional barriers which are causing
anemia.
When compared to the higher rates in regards to men there is a steep decline in the well being of a
woman and in terms of anameia causative it is an important issue to be analyzed and promotive
measure should be taken.
.
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

19. Conclusion..
As India is rich source of cultural and
traditional food component, this would be a
well additive for the prevention of anemia and
there should be a common door where in the
traditional values of food with a good diet
regimen is to be planned and then this to be
implemented at the grass roots level.
The dream of healthy India can be achieved
with only a health mother. The women being
more prone to conditions like anemia will not
be able to concentrate on the regular life and
this hampers also the growth of the family
around her.
Traditions and technology are like two sides
of the coin so there should a hand in hand
movement and this should begin from the very
nucleus of the family.
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

20. Probably have this in mind..
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

21. Reference..
1. Hermann, Kulke; Dietmar Rothermund (2004). A History of India. Routledge. p. 384. ISBN
978-0415329194.
2. http://india.gov.in/knowindia/india_at_a_glance.php
3. Ministry of Environment, Planning Commission, Ministry of Health, Press Information Bureau,
Census of India, Ministry of External Affairs, Union Budget, Reserve Bank of India,
www.indiainbusiness.nic.in
4. www.indiangov.in
5. The List of Wetlands of International Importance" (PDF). The Secretariat of the Convention of
on Wetlands. 4 June 2007. pp. 18. http://www.ramsar.org/sitelist.pdf. Retrieved 2007-06-20.
6. http://www.oecd.org/dataoecd/17/52/39452196.pdf
7. http://india.gov.in/knowindia/india_at_a_glance.php
8. P. Vibhuti ,Gender budget a case study in India, University of mumbai, march 2003 .
9. www.indiantourism.gov.in
10. Quisimbing, A., Brown, L.R, Feldstein, H.S, Haddad, L and Peńa, C. (2000) Women: The Key
to Food Security. Looking into the Household. Washington, DC: IFPRI.
11. Zoe Matthews,study paper , maternal helath in south india, 1Belaku Trust, 697 15th Cross,
J.P. Nagar Phase II, Bangalore, 560078, India, email: belaku@blr.vsnl.net.in, Department of
Social Statistics, University of Southampton, UK.
12. Singh, S. (1998), Adolescent childbearing in developing countries: A global review, Studies in
FamilyPlanning, Vol 29:2, pp 117-136.
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

22. 1. Quisumbing, A., Meinzen-Dick, R. and Bassett, L. (2008) ‘Helping Women Respond to the Global
Food Price Crisis’. Policy Brief 7. Washington, DC: IFRPI.
2. Penrose-Buckley, C. (2007) ‘How Can Small-Scale Producers Compete Globally?’ id21 Rural
Livelihoods Highlights 6 (http://www.id21.org/publications/Rural_6.pdf).
3. Swaminathan, M. (2000). Weakening Welfare: The Public Distribution of Food in India.New Delhi:
LeftWord Books. Indi
4. International Institute for Population Sciences et al. NationalFamily Health Survey (NFHS-2),
1998–1999: India.Mumbai, International Institute for Population Sciences,
5. 2000. Ref 2972.
6. World Health Organization (WHO). (2001). Iron deficiency anaemia, assessment,prevention, and
control, a guide for programme managers. Retrieved April 21,2004,
from:www.who.int/reproductive-health/docs/anaemia.pdf
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_India
8. http://www.fsdinternational.org/ntlopps/country/india/healthissues
9. http://medind.nic.in/icb/t06/i6/icbt06i6p509.pdf
10. http://censusindia.gov.in/Vital_Statistics/SRS_Bulletins/MMR-Bulletin-April-2009.pdf
11. http://www.unu.edu/unupress/food/V193e/ch03.htm
12. http://www.thehindu.com/2005/07/01/stories/2005070100970900.htm
13. Vibhuti patel, gender budgeting studies , university of Mumbai, India.
14. http://www.aidsallianceindia.net/Publications/SRH_HIV_AIDS_Flip_book.pdf
15. http://www.unicef.org/rosa/Anaemin.pdf
Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

23. Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore

24. Have a nice day

Gender and health –Study award –NIEW-Kuala Lumpur Malaysia, , 3rd November 2009
Dr. Amina Ather, Team lead IFRTK, Bangalore