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Context: Anemia is a serious public health concern especially in women of reproductive age (WRA) as it causes a high burden of morbidity and mortality and persists through intergenerational cycle. As most of the risk factors are preventable, a thorough understanding of its risk factors is necessary to design better interventions. Aims: Current study aimed to estimate the burden of anemia as well as explore determinants of various grades of anemia among WRA in a rural area. Settings and Design: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted among non-pregnant, non-lactating women of reproductive age in rural field practice area of All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health. Methods and Materials: House to house visit was conducted for interviewing with pre-designed pre-tested questionnaire along with blood hemoglobin and anthropometric measurement. Statistical Analysis Used: Descriptive statistics and test of significance like multinomial logistic regression and Kruskal-Wallis test (with post-hoc) were used. Results: Majority (70.8%) of participants were anemic. Proportion of mild, moderate, and severe anemia were 24.16%, 37.5%, and 9.16%, respectively. Different levels of anemia were significantly associated with higher age, lower education, poor iron-rich food intake, lack of dietary diversity, and adiposity. Significantly low hemoglobin level in both underweight and obesity was noticed suggesting U shaped relationship between BMI and anemia. Conclusion: Periodic screening for anemia among WRA especially in both extremes of malnutrition, i.e., undernutrition and obesity should be considered at the policy level. Year-round behaviour change communication campaigns must be carried out for the promotion of necessary food groups in diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: In India, despite implementation of the strategies under National Tobacco Control Programme [NTCP], women are easily exposed to tobacco consumption that is smokeless (SLT) and smoking tobacco along with second-hand smoke [SHS], making them highly susceptible to tobacco hazards. Aims: This study aimed to assess the exposure of women to tobacco use and SHS at home and to elicit predictors of tobacco exposure in a rural community of West Bengal. Methodology: A community based, cross-sectional study was conducted among 176 women aged 18 years and above. Data was collected by cluster sampling technique (16*11) using predesigned pretested structured schedule. Tobacco exposure was measured using a composite score including tobacco consumption and SHS at home. Results: Tobacco use (SLT and smoking tobacco) was significantly associated with educational attainment [AOR = 2.12], occupation [AOR = 2.13] and knowledge [AOR = 1.22]. There was significant association between SHS at home with knowledge [AOR = 1.16] and attitude of the study subjects. [AOR = 1.93]. Overall tobacco exposure (SLT, smoking tobacco, and SHS), was found to be 79.5%. Significant association was found between high tobacco exposure with age group [AOR = 3.82], educational attainment [AOR = 1.74] and knowledge regarding hazards of tobacco [AOR = 1.31]. Conclusion: Prevalence of SLT use as well as exposure of women to SHS at home is unexpectedly high in the study population. Women specific information and education campaigns focusing on tobacco hazards (both tobacco use and SHS) through existing primary health care infrastructure should be strategized under NTCP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]