Half of pregnant women in India anaemic: Study

Half of the pregnant women and 74 percent of children under five in India are anaemic, a malnutrition mapping project stated on Wednesday.

The 'Malnutrition Mapping Project' is an interactive tool that includes an online map for country-specific information and insights into the global challenge of malnutrition.

Developed by the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN) with support from Amway, the project report said 50 percent of pregnant women and 74 per cent of children under the age of five are anaemic.

In addition, it highlights the fact that 62 percent of children show insufficient Vitamin A status and undernutrition is the leading risk factor for death in children under five.

'The goal of this project is to raise awareness of malnutrition in all its forms so that political, health and business leaders can discuss, develop and ultimately implement solutions," said Dominic Schofield, director and senior technical advisor at GAIN, in a statement.

The map includes data from more than 30 countries representing low, middle and high incomes and provides an easy path to country-by-country statistics and insights into nutritional challenges.

It draws data from the World Health Organisation, Unicef and Lancet, and includes more than 40 indicators to help track undernutrition and obesity.