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Estimation of Anemia Prevalence in the country: NFHS versus DABS

Content Editor: Dr. M Swathi Shenoy

June 24, 2023 at 6:17:10 PM

Health surveys, Anemia, NFHS, DABS-1

Content Editor: Dr. M Swathi Shenoy

  • The National Family Health Survey-5 (NFHS-5) results showed a steep increase in the prevalence of Anemia across all age groups.  

  • Expert discussions concluded that the overestimation was due to faulty technique. 

  • The Diet and Biomarker Survey in India (DABS-1) will now conduct anemia prevalence estimation to overcome the limitations of NFHS-5. 

  • Few advantages of DABS-1 over NFHS includes: 

  1. Using venous blood sample instead of the capillary sample; 

  2. Use of standardized instruments for measuring hemoglobin. 

  • However, DABS-1 will be conducted among 1.8 lakh people using the state and country-representative sampling method, which will only get us a zoomed-out picture of the country.

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