Anaemia and Women’s Health in India: A Narrative Review of Burden, Drivers and Emerging Approaches

Anaemia is still a major public health challenge among Indian women despite decades of policy and programmes. National data reveal persistently high prevalence rates, geographic hotspots and socioeconomic inequalities. This narrative review examines the recent trends in anaemia among Indian women, explores the multifactorial causes, health and economic consequences and the effectiveness of bringing in innovative modern approaches in current interventions. While iron is the major contributor, in a substantial proportion of women, non-iron micronutrient deficiencies, infections, inflammation, genetic haemoglobin disorders, and poor diet cause anaemia. Poverty, low education, early marriage, gender inequalities and limited healthcare access further worsen their vulnerability. Anaemia significantly affects women’s physical capacity, productivity, maternal-perinatal outcomes and mental health. Clinical and public health interventions face major implementation gaps, decreasing the impact. Emerging approaches such as precision mapping, digital adherence tools, non-invasive diagnostics and food-tech innovations can offer new opportunities. A shift towards context-specific, biologically informed, focused strategies is essential to sustainably reduce the burden of anaemia among Indian women.