title: Anemia and its determinants among women of reproductive age of a slum in Kolkata: A focus group discussion among health workers in a slum of Kolkata.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anemia is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality among women of reproductive age. Progress toward reducing the burden of anemia has been little despite efforts through decades.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We conducted this study to unearth the microlevel determinants of anemia among women of reproductive age.
  
  
  METHODS
  This qualitative study was conducted in Urban Health Centre (UHC), Chetla.
  
  
  METHODS
  A focus group discussion was held among all the eight health staffs, who were involved in reproductive and child health-related service delivery under UHC, Chetla.
  A thematic analysis of the transcript was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that socioeconomic factors like poverty and social neglect, diet and nutrition related factors, lack of personal hygiene, and worm infestation contributed to the burden of anemia, and this was reinforced by factors related to service delivery, such as lack of supply of drugs and supplements, and inadequate training of health workers as well as poor media accountability.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Because of easy reversibility and implementation, health service delivery-related issues should be addressed closely through monitoring and evaluation and appropriate and timely action should be taken to improve the effectiveness of the services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Aparajita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Kaushik
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sarkar
authors.affiliation: Independent Researcher, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Ranadip
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.affiliation: Vaccine Delivery, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, India.
authors.forename: Arindam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ray
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Social Medicine, All India Institute of Hygiene and Public Health, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Bhaskar
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shahbabu
keywords: Anemia; focus group discussion; primary health care; reproductive age group