RANJAN SHRESTHA ECONOMICS

“Studying anemia in adolescent girls in Indonesia”

Anemia affects around a quarter of the Indonesian population, with women and children bearing a greater burden of this health condition. Its prevalence in Indonesia has not declined substantially in the last two decades and some surveys suggest that it has increased among some population groups in recent years. This project will evaluate the long-term consequences of adolescent anemia on the health status and educational attainment of Indonesian women. Using the sample of women who were adolescents in the 1997 round of the Indonesian Family Life Survey (IFLS), this study will track the same individuals through multiple survey rounds to determine whether anemia persisted over their lifecycle and whether being anemic during adolescence affected their educational attainment. The findings of this study will provide insights on the consequences of anemia and provide guidance on policies to reduce its prevalence.