Abstract
BACKGROUND: Anemia is a major health concern in India, ranking second in maternal mortality and exhibits a higher prevalence compared to many other developing nations. This study aims to analyze prevalence of anemia across age groups using systematic review and meta-analysis. METHODS: The present systematic review and meta-analysis includes cross-sectional studies from 1995 to 2023, reporting prevalence of anemia in India. Two authors independently screened and extracted data from relevant articles sourced from PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and model selection was based on observed heterogeneity (I(2)). Geospatial analysis and cumulative meta-analysis were performed using R 4.3.3 and STATA 16 software. RESULTS: Across 157 studies, the prevalence of anemia varied among different age groups and regions in India. Toddlers (under 3 years) had a 69% prevalence, with highest in the Eastern (87%) and lowest in the Northern (50%) regions. Pre-school children (3-5 years) had a 64% prevalence, exhibiting 85% and 37% in the Central and the North-Eastern regions, respectively. Among the school going children, the overall prevalence was 51.2%. The highest prevalence at 83.9% was seen in the North-Eastern regions, while the Central regions had the lowest prevalence at 40%. An overall prevalence of 53% was observed among individuals aged 19-59 years. The Northern region exhibited the highest prevalence (64%) and the lowest in the North-Eastern (39%) regions in this age group. Elderly individuals had a prevalence between 52 to 68%, with the highest in the Eastern (65%) and the lowest in the North-Eastern (44%) regions. CONCLUSIONS: Anemia prevalence was highest among toddlers and lowest among school children, with notable regional variations. Cumulative meta-analysis uncovered both consistent and increasing trends across various age groups. This meta-analysis provides essential insights for effective strategies against persistence of anemia prevalence. TRIAL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration number is CRD42023431577.