Prevalence of Anaemia and Associated Risk Factors Among the Meitei and Muslim Lactating Women in Manipur

*Corresponding Author: Prof. H. Sorojini Devi
Dept. of Anthropology, Dhanamanjuri University, Manipur-795001
Email:  sorojinihijam12345@gmail.com

KEYWORDS Anaemia, Lactating women, Meitei and Muslim, Socio-demographic.

ABSTRACT
Background: Anaemia remains a major public health problem among lactating women due to various factors such as nutritional deficiencies, low income, high gravidity and having a greater number of children.
Objectives: The present study aimed at examining the prevalence of anaemia among the Meitei and Muslim lactating women in Kakching district of Manipur.
Materials and Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 lactating women aged 18–45 years, comprising 250 Meitei and 150 Muslim women from 13 villages in the Kakching and Waikhong subdivisions of Kakching district, Manipur. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, number of children, gravidity, and height and weight were collected using a pretested interview schedule. Body mass index (BMI) was computed and classified according to WHO guidelines. Haemoglobin concentration was estimated using Sahli’s method, and anaemia was classified based on the WHO classification. The chi-square test was used to assess significant differences, and logistic regression was performed to identify predictors of anaemia. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results: The overall prevalence of anaemia is high in both communities, with significantly higher prevalence among Muslim women (69.4%) compared to Meitei women counterparts (58%). Low literacy and low income are significantly associated with anaemia among Meitei women, while gravidity shows a significant association in both populations. Odds ratio (OR) from a binary regression analysis revealed that women with>4 pregnancies in both groups have significantly higher odds of anaemia among Meitei (OR=3.92; 95% CI: 1.11–13.92) and Muslim women (OR=2.48; 95% CI: 1.00–6.13). Muslim women with >4 children (OR= 4.30; CI 0.95-19.45) also indicate significantly high odds of anaemia. Underweight women also exhibit a higher odds ratio than other categories of BMI, particularly in Meitei women. 
Conclusion: Low literacy level, low income, and more pregnancies with a greater number of children are identified as the associated risk factors of anaemia.

W. Penaosana Chanu¹ and H. Sorojini Devi ²*

¹Research scholar, Dept. of Anthropology, Dhanamanjuri University, Manipur
²Professor, Dept. of Anthropology, Dhanamanjuri University, Manipur-795001,

DOI-DS:
DOI Link ::

Frontier Anthropology, 2026, 15: 1-8
©Anthropological Society of Manipur

Original Article

Manuscript Timeline
Submitted: August 30, 2025
Accepted: December 29, 2025
Published: January 29, 2026

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