The document outlines national guidelines for controlling iron deficiency anemia in India. It acknowledges anemia as a major public health challenge in India that affects various groups like pregnant women, non-pregnant women, adolescent girls, boys, and children under 2 years of age. The guidelines were developed to identify comprehensive strategies and actions across the lifecycle to address this problem. It emphasizes implementing the guidelines to improve health outcomes and move towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals of reducing maternal and child mortality.

1. Guidelines for Control of
Iron Deficiency Anaemia

2. Adolescent Division
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
Government of India

4. Acknowledgements
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List of Contributors
Ms. Anuradha Gupta
Additional Secretary Mission Director, NRHM
Dr. Rakesh Kumar
Joint Secretary, RCH
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Deputy Commissioner, Adolescent Health
Ms. Anshu Mohan
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Dr. Sheetal Rahi
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Technical Experts
Professor Umesh Kapil, Department of Community Medicine, AIIMS
Dr. HPS Sachdev, Paediatrician, Sita Ram Bhartia Institute of Science Research
Dr. PV Kotecha, Professor, Preventive and Social Medicine,
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Dr. Prema Ramachandran, Director, Nutrition Foundation of India
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Dr. Vartika Saxena, Deptt. of Community Medicine, AIIMS, Rishikesh
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9. P.K. PRADHAN
Secretary
Department of Health FW
Tel.: 23061863 Fax : 23061252
e-mail : secyhfw@nic.in
National Rural Health Mission
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF HEALTH FAMILY WELFARE
NIRMAN BHAVAN, NEW DELHI - 110108
- 110108
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Place: New Delhi
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E-mail : anuradhagupta@hotmail.com
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Anuradha Gupta

15. Foreword
Anaemia, a manifestation of under-nutrition and poor dietary intake of iron is
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and control anaemia. I call upon all stakeholders and partners for their continued support
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Telefax : 23061723
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17. Contents
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1.1. What is Anaemia? 1
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24. Acronyms
AG Adolescent Girl
ANC Antenatal Care
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ASHA Accredited Social Health Activist
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CHC Community Health Centre
CNS Central Nervous System
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DH District Hospital
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IFA Iron and Folic Acid
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MCP Card Mother Child Protection Card
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MoHFW Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
MUAC Mid Upper Arm Circumference
MWCD Ministry of Women and Child Development
NFHS National Family Health Survey
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WIFS Weekly Iron and Folic Acid Supplementation
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25. 1
Anaemia – $ 3XEOLF +HDOWK KDOOHQJH
1.1. What is Anaemia?
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function of the RBCs is to deliver oxygen from the lungs to the tissues and carbon
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Fig. 1.1: Adverse effects of anaemia
ANAEMIA
Reduced
physical
development
Impaired
sexual and
reproductive
development
Reduced
cognitive
development
Decreased work output
Decreased work capacity
Diminished concentration
Disturbance in perception
Poor learning ability
Irregular menstruation
Low pre-pregnancy iron stores
LBW babies and preterm delivery
1

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Table 1.1: Haemoglobin levels to diagnose anaemia (g/dl)
Age groups No Anaemia Mild Moderate Severe
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