Unveiling Hidden Story of Anaemia among Indian Muslim Women: A Comprehensive Analysis from 2005 to 2021 for Implications on Well-being

Zeenat Hashmi, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay
Ashish Singh, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay

Iron is essential for women’s health, especially for those of reproductive age, due to its role in oxygen transport and energy production (Smith et al., 2019). Muslim women in India face unique socio-economic challenges, such as lower educational attainment (Hazarika, 2012), economic deprivation (Lussier & Fish, 2015), and limited healthcare access, making them more vulnerable (Amnesty International, 2022; Udogu, 2012). This study investigates the implications on the well-being of Muslim women by analysing the prevalence and trends of nutritional anaemia among Muslim women in India, focusing on socio-economic and geographical disparities. Using concentration indices, logistic regression, predicted probabilities and decomposition analysis, we observed an increase in severe anaemia from 1.76% (2005-2006) to 2.66% (2019-2021) in the general female population, with a sharper rise of 4.62% among Muslim women. Eastern and Northeastern regions showed the highest anaemia rates, and rural areas consistently had higher prevalence than urban regions by 4-7 percentage points from 2005 to 2021. Caste-based and economic disparities were also significant, disproportionately affecting Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes and the poorest quintile. Recent data, however, indicates progress in reducing anaemia among the poorest groups. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to address these disparities and improve health outcomes.

Keywords: Inequality, Disadvantage and Discrimination, Economic Demography, Population Policies, Population and Development

See paper.