A study on anemia among the reproductive age group women using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kit

Introduction: Iron deficiency is the commonest nutritional disorder in the world. The common prevalent type of anemia is caused by nutritional factors, and it is particularly prevalent in women of childbearing age, pregnant women, and nursing mothers. Anemia is indicative of poor intake of nutrition and leads to ill health. The present study aims to estimate anemia among women of the childbearing age group at the field level using an RDT kit.   Methodology: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among reproductive age group women to estimate the hemoglobin using an RDT kit at the field level in the coastal area of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.   Results: Out of 663 subjects, 17.3% participants were from the age group 35-39 and 40-44 years each. Based on the educational status, graduates and postgraduates accounted for 32.3%. Among the study subjects 63.34% were pregnant and lactating. 77.2% of the subjects were Hindus. Among the study subjects 59.57% had hemoglobin above 12 g/dl. 40.42% had <12 g/dl hemoglobin levels.   Conclusion: The Hemocue 301 RDT kit can be used at the field levels for the estimation of hemoglobin by gross route health care works.