Prevalence of Anemia among Street Children in Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Street children are the most neglected and vulnerable population and are at risk of micronutrient deficiency syndrome like anemia. The aim of this study was to assess the nutritional status and prevalence of anemia among street children aged from 3 to 18 years living in Kolkata metropolitan city. Presence of pallor, koilonychias, and blood hemoglobin level were assessed in this survey. A cross sectional study was conducted on 480 street children aged from 3 to 18 years in selected 10 zones in Kolkata. Period of study was ten months. Their body weight and height were measured and information about socio economic status and food habit was accumulated through a pre structured questionnaire. Blood sample was collected to estimate hemoglobin level of the children. In the study the prevalence of pallor was 41.04%, koilonychia 33.96% and low hemoglobin level was 51.25%. Substance abuse, mother’s qualification, per capita monthly income, duration of breast feeding, health consciousness (includes not skipping meal, not having tea or beetle nut after meal), gender, fruits and vegetable intake, age, protein intake and BMI had great influence on prevalence of anemia. Hemoglobin level of the street children was quite poor. Reasons for such findings can be lack of awareness regarding proper meal, financial constraints to afford iron rich food stuff, substance abuse and also lack of nutrients like vitamin and protein. The hemoglobin status of the street children in Kolkata strongly highlights the requirement of awareness programme for preventing anemia.