Prevalence of Iron Deficiency and its Sociodemographic Patterning in Indian Children and Adolescents: Findings from the Comprehensive National Nutrition Survey 2016-18.

ID prevalence was indicative of moderate (in preschool children and adolescent girls) or mild (in 5- to 9-y-old children and adolescent boys) public health problem with significant variation by state and age. Focusing on increasing iron intake alone, without addressing the multiple environmental constraints related to poverty, may not result in intended benefits.