Incidence of Anaemia in the School-Going Children in Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Konaseema District

Background: Anaemia remains one of the most prevalent and preventable public health challenges among school-aged children in India, with significant implications for physical growth, cognitive development, and academic performance. This study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of anaemia and identify its associated socio-demographic and nutritional risk factors among school-going children. Methods: Acrosssectional study was conducted among 400 children aged 6–16 years from five selected schools (2 government, 3 private) using multistage stratified random sampling. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire and hemoglobin levels were measured using portable hemoglobinometers. Anaemia was classified as per WHO guidelines. Statistical analysis was performed using Epi-info. Results: The overall prevalence of anaemia was 41.5%. Anaemia was more common among girls (47.4%) than boys (36.2%) and among children aged 13–16 years (48.1%) compared to younger age groups (35.8%). Government school students had a higher burden (53.2%) than private school peers (34.8%). Significant risk factors included infrequent deworming, low parental literacy, low socioeconomic status, poor hygiene, frequent junk food intake, skipping breakfast, recent infections, underweight status, and lack of iron/folic acid supplementation (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Anaemia among school children in Konaseema is alarmingly high and associated with multiple modifiable factors. Regular deworming, school-based supplementation, nutrition education, and targeted interventions are essential. Localized strategies based on these findings can help improve children's health outcomes and educational performance.