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VOL. 11, ISSUE 2 (2026)
Assessment of nutritional status and its association with anaemia among women in rural communities: survey data of Mayurbhanj district, Odisha
Authors
Banani Sahu
Abstract
This study investigates the relationship
between nutritional status, measured by body mass index (BMI), and anaemia
prevalence among reproductive-age women in rural communities of Mayurbhanj
District, Odisha. A community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted across
six rural blocks, recruiting 300 women aged 15–49 years through multistage
random sampling. Data were collected via structured interviews, anthropometric
measurements, and haemoglobin estimation. BMI was classified as underweight
(<18.5 kg/m²), normal (18.5–24.9 kg/m²), or overweight (≥25 kg/m²), while
anaemia status followed WHO guidelines. The results revealed a high prevalence
of undernutrition, with 39.7% of women classified as underweight, and a total
anaemia prevalence of 67.3%. A pronounced inverse association emerged between
BMI and anaemia: 82.4% of underweight women were anaemic compared to 58.3% of
normal-weight women and only 33.3% of overweight women. Furthermore, dietary
assessments indicated that 47.0% of women had low intake of iron-rich foods,
and 57.3% consumed tea immediately after meals, a habit that impairs iron
absorption. These findings demonstrate a strong inverse relationship between
BMI and anaemia, suggesting that undernutrition is a critical driver of
micronutrient deficiency in this tribal-dominated region. The study contributes
novel evidence from a geographically and economically disadvantaged population,
emphasizing the need for integrated nutritional interventions that
simultaneously address caloric deficits and micronutrient deficiencies to
mitigate the dual burden of malnutrition and anaemia among rural women.
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Pages:116-122
How to cite this article:
Banani Sahu "Assessment of nutritional status and its association with anaemia among women in rural communities: survey data of Mayurbhanj district, Odisha". International Journal of Food Science and Nutrition, Vol 11, Issue 2, 2026, Pages 116-122
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