Anemia and Its Determinants among Male and Female Adolescents in Southern Ethiopia: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background. Adolescent anemia is a major public health problem worldwide. Adolescents (10–19 years) are at an increased risk of developing anemia due to increased iron demand during puberty, menstrual losses, limited dietary iron intake, and faulty dietary habits. Objective. To assess the prevalence of anemia and associated factors among male and female adolescent students in Dilla Town, Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia, May 2018. Methods. A school-based comparative cross-sectional study was employed among 742 school adolescents. Basic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, haemoglobin measurement, and others were collected. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 20 software, and descriptive statistics were computed for all variables. Bivariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses using binary logistic regression were done, the results were interpreted by using AOR with their corresponding 95% CI, and statistically significant difference was declared at p<0.05Result. Out of the total 742 respondents, 377 (50.8%) were males and 365 (49.2%) were females. The overall prevalence of anemia was 21.1%, and the prevalence of anemia was 22.5% among male adolescents and 19.7% among females. Male adolescent students within the early adolescence age group (10–13 yrs) (AOR 0.27, 95% CI, 0.08–0.87), those consuming fibre-rich foods daily (AOR 0.11, 95% CI, 0.02–0.61), and those having no intestinal parasites (AOR 0.04, 95% CI, 0.02–0.09) were less likely to be anemic. Similarly, female adolescent students not having intestinal parasites (AOR 0.05, 95% CI, 0.01–0.11) were less likely to develop anemia while those from malaria endemic area (AOR 2.57, 95% CI, 1.13–5.83) were identified to be more anemic. Conclusion. This study identified that anemia was a moderate public health significance in the study area, and the prevalence of anemia was slightly higher among male than female adolescents. Age category, frequency of eating fibre-rich foods, and positive intestinal parasite tests were factors contributing for anemia among male adolescents while presence of intestinal parasite and malaria endemicity were the determinants of anemia among female adolescents.

The clinical characteristics of anemia in native adults living at different altitudes of the Tibetan Plateau

“…Hence, much attention should be paid to the anemia problem in the plateau areas and appropriate interventions should be taken to prevent and treat anemia. The incidence of anemia in women is significantly higher than that in men, which may be related to factors such as hemorrhage in women's physiological period, pregnancy, lactation, and internal hormones 11 . In addition, compared with the eastern plain area, the medical strength of gynecology and obstetrics is weak, and the socioeconomic development and cultural cognition level are relatively low 12 .…”

Cluster Analysis and Classification Model of Nutritional Anemia Associated Risk Factors Among Palestinian Schoolchildren, 2014

“…This finding is inconsistent across studies. Research carried out in Ethiopia, for example, has found that anemia levels are lower in 10–13-year-old boys than older adolescents ( 59 ); however, other studies have demonstrated that anemia is higher among early adolescent years (10–13 years) compared with the late adolescent period ( 60 ). Another study in Nepal concluded that the anemia level in older boys and girls (15–19 years) is higher than the anemia level in younger children ( 61 ).…”

Asupan Protein, Zat Besi Dan Status Gizi Pada Remaja Putri

“…45 Kebutuhan absorpsi zat besi memuncak pada usia 14-15 tahun pada remaja putri. 46 Pada penelitian yang dilakukan oleh Nelima et al (2015) menunjukkan bahwa remaja putri yang memiliki asupan zat besi rendah akan berisiko 9 kali lebih besar untuk menderita anemia dibandingkan remaja putri yang memiliki asupan zat besi yang cukup. 47 Anemia memiliki konsekuensi serius pada masa remaja dengan retardasi pertumbuhan serta gangguan fisik dan kinerja kognitif.…”