Parliament Question: Survey on malnourished children and anemic pregnant women

GOVERNMENT OFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENT OFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE RAJYASABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 2045 TOBE ANSWERED ON10THMARCH, 2026 SURVEYON MALNOURISHED CHILDREN AND ANEMIC PREGNANTWOMEN 2045. #SHRISHAKTISINH GOHIL: Will the Ministerof HEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate: (a) whether AIIMS Rajkot in Gujarat and Government Health Department has conducted a survey regardingthe numberofmalnourished girls, childrenandanemicpregnantwomen, if so, the percentagethereofandif not,whether anyothersuch surveys have beenconducted;and (b) the percentagethereofinthe country? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAO JADHAV) (a) All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rajkot, in collaboration with the State Health Systems Resource Centre Gujarat (SHSRCG) under the Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Gujarat, conducted a cross-sectional study, titled as “Prevalence and Determinants of Anaemia in Pregnant Women and Adolescent Girls in Gujarat: A Biochemical and Dietary Assessment.” The study covered 2,805 pregnant women and 2,815 adolescent girlsacross10highanaemiaburdendistricts ofGujarat. The prevalence of anaemia in these 10 high anaemia burden districts was found to be 64.2% among pregnantwomen and60.85% amongadolescent girls. However,only17.2% of anaemic pregnantwomen and21.2%of anaemicadolescent girlshadabsolute irondeficiency. (b) As per National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) (2019-21), the prevalence of anaemia at the nationallevelis52.2%amongpregnantwomen, and59.1%amongadolescent girls. *****