Prevalence and factors associated with anaemia among pregnant women in rural Mysore, Karnataka, India

Undernutrition has been a glaring problem of India, especially among the vulnerable groups like children and women population. Child nutrition gets its due attention because of associated frank morbidity and mortality. But adolescent women and pregnant women rarely get noticed because of their adaptability and Indian nature of ‘learn to live with it’ till the problem exacerbates and complications set in. Around 2010 it was reported that 48% of Indian underfives suffered from undernutrition. During the same period, 70% of adolescent girls suffered from undernutrion. 1 This continues in their married life as early marriage of girls is a norm in India. After marriage women rarely get an opportunity to care about themselves while working for the family. During the pregnancy they may get attention if living in a joint family, but nowadays the trend of nuclear families and working women is on the rise.