Iron-Deficiency Anaemia – From the Prospect of Community Health Nursing

Anaemia is the worldwide major public health problem. Globally, there are around two billion anemic people and approximately 50% of them are suffering from iron deficiency anaemia, which is one of the most common nutritional anaemia. Iron deficiency anaemia can be defined as the condition in which the total body iron content is decreased below a normal level that affects hemoglobin synthesis. A number of factors such as poor dietary intake, iron malabsorption, excessive blood loss, pregnancy, child birth, chronic inflammations and infections may contribute to iron deficiency anaemia. It is characterized by headache, difficulty in concentration, fatigue, weakness, palpitations, breathlessness, dyspnea, pallor skin and mucous membranes, smooth or sore tongue etc. If anaemia is not diagnosed and treated at an early stage, it may have severe health consequences that hamper the nation's social and economic development. This review article throws the light on Anaemia, its risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, WHO cut-off points and their adjustment according to altitude and smoking habits, interventions in national health programmes and the role of the community health nurse in prevention and control of iron-deficiency Anaemia.