The NFHS-4 (National Family Health Survey) conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides a lot of health-related and population-based information. It showcases the prevalence of ‘anemia’ among women. According to the survey, only 2% improvement has been made so far since 2005. This is worrisome.
About 40% of the women are mildly anemic, 12% are moderately anemic, and 1% are severely anemic. Anemia also varies by maternity status: 58% of women who are breastfeeding are anemic, compared to 50% of the women who are pregnant and the other 52% who are neither pregnant nor breastfeeding.
About 60% of female students in Delhi colleges are anemic as per the new survey carried out by the Delhi government. This shows that the problem of anemia and other diseases is not only found in underprivileged sections but also among affluent societies—all because of our collective neglect towards women’s health.
The facts tell us that because of traditional rules, women are still not provided with adequate diets. In joint families or even modern families, women often eat last after making sure that every member of the family has eaten. Also, there exists a rule in rural India that women should not take meals before the elders are served, in no case whatsoever. Why? Because it is ‘disrespectful’ and women are required to have the inbuilt mechanism to ‘honour’ family everywhere, be it at her father’s home or her husband’s home.
Needless to say, women’s education remains low because of the existing gender inequality and patriarchal society. This is also the reason women don’t pay attention to their own health and nutritional intakes.
As per the Global Hunger Index (GHI)2019, India ranks 103 out of 119, which shows that India is still facing acute poverty. Where poverty is prevalent, child marriages are highly likely to happen. This leads to early reproduction and nutritional problems among young women later.
Comments