Abstract:-
High prevalence of anemia among pregnant women in India is an alarming situation. Anemia during pregnancy elevates the risk of adverse health consequences for both mother and the child. The strategy of Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) supplementation during pregnancy thus assumes instrumental relevance for maternal and child health and well-being. Since 2018, the Anemia Mukt Bharat program specifically aims to achieve faster reduction in anemia with a comprehensive set of strategies which also includes IFA supplementation as a priority concern. Against this backdrop, we analyze NFHS 2015-16 and 2019-21 data to examine: a) the role of public sector in improving IFA supplementation during pregnancy and b) the impact of IFA consumption during pregnancy on child health outcomes (low birth weight, stunting, and neonatal mortality).

Co-authors: Ravinder Meena (IEG) and Ajit Kumar Yadav(IEG)