Abstract:
Haemoglobin (Hb) measurements were
included in the Third National Nutrition and
Health Survey, conducted between October 1994
and January 1995 by the Ministry of Policy
Planning, Ethnic Affairs and National
Integration, in order to obtain nationally
representative data on the prevalence of
anaemia in Sri Lanka. Finger prick samples of
blood were placed immediately in a HemoCue
(photometer) cuvette and the Hb reading
recorded. A Hb concentration below 11, g/dL
among children below 60 mo and among
pregnant women was taken as an indication of
anaemia. For children 5 yr and older and nonpregnant
women the cut-off point was 12 g/dL,
and 11 g/dl- for pregnant women.
For children between 3 and 59 mo, the Hb
concentration was 11.0 g/dl- (S.D 1,.5 g/ dL),11.6
(S.D 1.3) g/ dL for children 5 to 10.9 yr, 12.3 (S.D
Lq g/dL for children between 11 and 18.9 yr
and 12.0 (S.D 1.5) g/dL for non pregnant
mothers. The mean FIb concentration varied by
province, the lowest levels being in the North
Western Province and highest in the Uva
Province. A sectoral difference was seen among
non-pregnant women only, being significantly
lower in the estate sector than in the rural and
urban sectors. Anaemia prevalence was 45"h
among pre-school children,58% among children
between 5 and 10.9 y, 36o/" among adolescents.
-{mong women, 45% of non-pregnant and 39o/o
of pregnant women were anaemic. TWo percent
of children 6-11., 1.2-'1.7 and 24-35 mo were
-\rerely anaemic (FIb below 7 g/ dL) and 1% of
preg-nant women were very severely anaemic
lHb less than 4 g/dl.).
The results indicate that several groups in the
population could benefit from interventions,
including iron supplements and food
fortification.
