Anemia reduction efforts in low- and middle-income countries are often promoted as a means to enhance educational outcomes and alleviate poverty. A recent study, conducted by a global health economics expert from the University of Notre Dame, examines the correlation between anemia and school attendance in India, challenging previous research that may have influenced policy interventions.discovered a possible connection between anemia and reduced school attendance in India. These findings could have influenced policy decisions. However, Santosh Kumar’s latest research aims to clarify and enhance our understanding of this relationship. Published in the journal “Communications Medicine,” the study examines the impact of anemia on school attendance among over 250,000 15 to 18-year-old adolescents in India. Santosh Kumar, an associate professor at Notre Dame’s Keough School of Global Affairs, specializes in development and global health economics, with a focus on reducing poverty and improving global health.
This study, conducted by Kumar, found a connection between anemia and attendance, even after considering factors like gender and household wealth. However, a new study with more rigorous statistical analysis did not find a link, according to Kumar. “Previous research in this area has been limited by traditional study designs and small geographic focuses, which reduces its relevance for policy,” Kumar explained. “Previous estimates may have been affected by unseen household factors related to both anemia and school attendance. Therefore, this study specifically examined the connection between anemia and attendance in adolescents who were Living in the same household. Kumar stated, “we discovered that the connection between anemia and schooling is not as strong as previous studies that didn’t take household-level factors into account.”
These results have significant implications for policymakers aiming to enhance education in countries with low and middle incomes, such as India, according to Kumar. India faces widespread issues with school attendance and struggles with health conditions like anemia caused by iron deficiency, especially in children and teenagers. The country has made efforts to improve educational outcomes in line with the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations.stated that the ultimate goal is to find an effective intervention for reducing child mortality. However, Kumar emphasized that further research is necessary to identify an evidence-based approach to achieve this. This current study is part of an ongoing project that aims to address this need. It was co-authored by Jan-Walter De Neve from the University of Heidelberg, Omar Karlsson from Lund University in Sweden, Rajesh Kumar Rai from Harvard University, and Sebastian Vollmer from the University of Göttingen. The project received funding from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, the Swedish Research Council, and the West Bengal State Department of Health and Family Welfare in India. This recent study builds upon a previous one conducted by Kumar and his colleagues.The researchers assisted in assessing the outcomes of a school lunch program in India that fortified with iron for students aged 7 and 8. The study revealed that fortification decreased anemia, but it did not have an impact on the students’ academic performance. A new study, scheduled to commence in the summer of 2024, will examine iron fortification for children aged 3 to 5. The study aims to determine whether intervening with nutrition at an early age among preschoolers would have a significant effect on their physical and cognitive development.
“Our findings have implications for policymakers aiming to enhance educational achievements and alleviate poverty,” Kumar stated. According to the evidence, there is a need for more thorough statistical analysis to investigate the cause-and-effect relationship between anemia and education.
“This study connects to my broader research focus, which delves into the convergence of international health and the alleviation of poverty. I aim to utilize my academic research to uphold human dignity by contributing to the identification of health policies rooted in evidence that can bring about real change in people’s lives.”