Doorstep screening shows promise in cutting anaemia among girls and women

A new study by the Indian Council of Medical Research–National Institute of Nutrition (ICMR-NIN) has found that a simple doorstep screening and treatment approach can make a big difference in tackling anaemia — especially among adolescent girls and women.

The research, conducted in 14 villages in Telangana, tested a strategy called STAR (Screen and Treat for Anaemia Reduction). Instead of waiting for people to visit health facilities, the programme brought screening and treatment to their homes. Everyone aged six months to 50 years was checked for anaemia, and those who needed it received iron and folic acid supplements right at home.

The results were encouraging. Among girls aged 10–19 years, anaemia dropped by over 15% and their average haemoglobin levels rose by 0.73 g/dL. Women of reproductive age also saw improvements, with anaemia rates falling by 4.4%. “Anaemia prevalence was significantly lower in the STAR group compared to those who received routine care. The biggest gains were among adolescent girls,” said Raghu P, one of the scientists behind the study.

The trial involved more than 11,000 participants and compared STAR with the usual national programmes. Participants were mobilised near their homes for haemoglobin testing with support from ASHA workers and community leaders. Haemoglobin estimation was done at the point of care using a portable autoanalyzer and pooled capillary blood samples.

Anaemic individuals received therapeutic IFA supplementation, while non-anaemic participants were given prophylactic doses, in line with national guidelines. “Currently, India’s ‘Anaemia Mukt Bharat’ programme focuses mainly on pregnant women and relies on facility-based screening. But this approach often misses large sections of the population. Our study shows that a proactive, community-wide screen-and-treat strategy can fill these gaps,” said ICMR-NIN Director Bharati Kulkarni.

However, the study — published in BMJ Global Health — also highlighted challenges. Even with awareness campaigns, only about one-third of people who needed treatment took their supplements regularly. Improving adherence through counselling and follow-up will be key to making this strategy more effective.

“Our findings confirm that a population-level screen-and-treat strategy for anaemia reduction is feasible and can address key gaps in identification and coverage of IFA supplementation. The study strongly underscores the need for intensified efforts to improve adherence through counselling, behaviour change communication and supportive follow-up mechanisms,” reiterated Mr. Kulkarni.

ICMR-NIN researchers believe that integrating structured screening and treatment into existing health programmes could speed up progress against anaemia — especially among adolescent girls and women — improving health, productivity and the future of millions of Indians, the release added.