Original Research Articles DOI: 10.18231/2394-2738.2016.0008 The Journal of Community Health Management, October-December 2016;3(4):185-189 185 Prevalence of anaemia in elderly rural population of block Lakhanmajra, District Rohtak, Haryana, India Ved Pal 1 , Ved Prakash Yadav 2 , S C Mohapatra 3 , V P Gupta 4 1 Assistant Professor, 2 Resident, 3 Dean Academic Affair of SGT University and Professor and Head, 4 Associate Professor, Department of Community Medicine, SGT University, Gurgaon, Haryana *Correspondence Author: Email: vishwamegh@gmail.com Abstract Background: Anaemia is universal in the elderly and its prevalence increases with age. In our country an old person, in addition to the effects of aging, is often subjected to the problems of dependency, deprivation, disability, poverty, ignorance, loneliness and rejection of the family members etc. under such circumstances, it is likely that anaemia, which is quite prevalent even in adulthood may further worsen in old age. Hence the study was conducted to find out the prevalence, types of anaemia and association of various factors with anaemia in elderly rural population. Methods: The present study was conducted in Rural Community Development block Lakhan Majra having a population of approximately 98000, as sample study population. A house to house visit of the whole sample population (497 males and 503) was done to gather information on relevant factors on pretested semi-structured questionnaire and blood samples were taken for haemoglobin estimation by Sahli technique and the blood slides were prepared to find out the type of anaemia. Results: The prevalence of anemia was 90.4% (84.15 in males and 96.6% in females). Microscopic examination revealed that about 50 % of elderly showed the features of iron deficiency anemia. The most common type of anaemia was normochromic normocytic (41.3%) followed by microcytic hypochromic (19.8%), normocytic hypochromic (13.5%), dimorphic (7.1%). There was significant association of age, sex, living spouse, physical activity, consumption of curd/Lassi with level of haemoglobin. The relationship of caste distribution, literacy, family income, occupation, type of family, behavior, smoking ,alcoholism, drug intake, tea intake, chronic diarrhea, history of bleeding were studied and the observed difference amongst all were found to be insignificant. Conclusions: Elderly population constitutes 7.2% of the total population and mostly (90.4%) were anaemic and the prevalence of severe anaemia was 4.8%. The microscopy examination revealed that about half of the elderly, iron deficiency was the main cause of anaemia. The study made a strong case of implementation of iron supplementation and dietary intervention for elderly. Keywords: Elderly Population, Anaemia in Elderly, Nutritional Status in Elderly. Introduction The ageing process is biological reality that begins at conception and continues throughout the life cycle. The manner in which someone ages depends on heredity, physical health, nutritional, mental, and other unknown factors. Broadly speaking, ageing of a population has been defined as increase in the proportion of the aged vis-à-vis a decrease in proportion of the young. During the past few decades, discoveries in the medical sciences and improved social conditions have increased the life span of man and therefore, the age structure of population is changing as the share of the elderly is increasing. In India, the population of the elderly is growing rapidly and is emerging as a serious area of concern for the government and the policy planners for better living conditions and services. As a result of declining mortality and relatively lower and more stable fertility rates, the proportion of people over 60 in the developing countries is expected to increase. According to data from World Population Prospects: the 2015 Revision (United Nations, 2015), the number of older persons—those aged 60 years or over— has increased substantially in recent years in most countries and regions, and that growth is projected to accelerate in the coming decades. Between 2015 and 2030, the number of people in the world aged 60 years or over is projected to grow by 56 per cent, from 901 million to 1.4 billion, and by 2050, the global population of older persons is projected to more than double its size in 2015, reaching nearly 2.1 billion. Between 2015 and 2030, the number of people in the world aged 60 years or over is projected to grow by 56 per cent, from 901 million to 1.4 billion, and by 2050, the global population of older persons is projected to more than double its size in 2015, reaching nearly 2.1 billion. Over the next 15 years, the number of older persons is expected to grow fastest in Latin America and the Caribbean with a projected 71 per cent increase in the population aged 60 years or over, followed by Asia (66%), Africa (64%), Oceania (47%), Northern America (41 per cent) and Europe (23%). (1) Elderly people have special health and socio- economic problems different from those of general population). (2,3) Multiple pathology is hallmark of elderly subjects. Ageing process is responsible for the functional decline of multiple organs; a similarly decline occurs in marrow functions in humans. Anaemia is a public health problem that affects populations in both rich and poor countries. Although the primary cause is iron deficiency, it is seldom present in isolation). (4) More frequently it coexists with a number of other causes, such as malaria, parasitic infection, nutritional deficiencies,