Available studies on prevalence of Nutritional Anaemia in India showed that 65% infants and toddlers, 60% children 1-6 years of age, 80% adolescent girls and 85% pregnant women were anaemic. Hence, this study was planned in the subjects visiting Katihar Medical College and Hospital. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. To estimate the incidence of anaemia in inhabitants of Katihar. 2. To assess the morphological types of anaemia in different groups of people in this population. 3. To find out the association

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... between anaemia and various socio-demographic factors. MATERIAL AND METHODS The present longitudinal study was carried out between December 2009 and mid August 2011. Using 'Estimation setup technique' with anaemia proportion taken as 40% with level of significance 5% and absolute allowable error 7%, the inflated sample size was 197 and was rounded off to 200. These subjects were selected using convenience sampling. Statistical methods adopted to address the objectives were frequencies, proportions, contingency coefficient and Chi-square test for proportion. RESULTS In the present study, Microcytic, hypochromic anaemia (41.5%) was the most common type in both males and females. Highest incidence of anaemia in the present series was in the age group of 21-30 years being 37%. Incidence of anaemia was 62% in females and 38% in males. In present study, 130 cases (65%) were among vegetarians and 90 cases (45%) were among non-vegetarians; 76% cases were of low income group and 24% were middle income group. The commonest presenting symptoms were general weakness and tiredness (84%).