Prevalence of anemia among school going adolescent girls in rural area of Pune, Maharashtra, India

Abstract

Background: Anemia is like the tip of an iceberg, as majority of anemic subjects are asymptomatic. Low iron diet for longer period perpetuates an inter-generational cycle of anemia, anemic women giving birth to anemic children. This situation is more acute in rural area due to their dietary habits, illiterate parents, socio-economic status, misconception about food, religions belief, menstruation and physical activity. Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in rural field practice area of Rural Heath Training Centre (RHTC) under department of community medicine, Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical college Pune, Maharashtra, India. There are 11 villages under RHTC Lavale: Out of them one village viz. Pirangut village was randomly selected. (by using random sampling method). This study was conducted in 2013. Total 740 senior secondary school girls studying in class 6 th to 12 th (10-19 age group) were included. Hb level was measured by Sahli′s hemoglobinometer. Chi square was used to test for association between qualitative variables, and p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant. Results: The Hb level of girls reveal that majority 648 (87.6%) of them were anemic. It was found that 305 (47.06%) and 340 (52.48%) were suffering from mild and moderate anemia while 3 (0.46%) had severe anemia. The significant association was found with BMI for age. Conclusions: Active measures to decrease the prevalence of anemia through educating these girls and their mothers, school diet supplementation, providing low cost diet.

A study to assess the prevalence of anemia among patients attending an urban health training center in Bihar: One year experience of anemia Mukt Bharat test and treat campaign

“…About 62.5% adolescent girls were anemic in the present study, which is in consensus with the findings of different studies wherein anemia prevalence is documented from 59% to 65.7%. 4,11,12 On the other hand, in contrast to our study findings Chandrakumari et al, 2 and Bodat et al, 13 reported comparatively lower and higher prevalence of 48.3% and 87.6%, respectively, among the adolescent girls in their study.…”

Evaluation of Prevalence and Knowledge about Anaemia and Their Determinants Among Adolescent Girls

“…[16,17]. The mean±SD HB levels of the girls were found to be 10.1±1.71g/dl and was similar to the other studies in India in this age group [15,18]. Clinical signs, paleness of (eyes, lips, tongue, skin, nails, gums) reported among AG were statistically significant (p<0.005) to the prevalence of anaemia.…”

“…HAZ was not significant but there was trend(p=0.089). BMI, there was a significant association with anaemia prevalence (p<0.005) which coincided with the study [15]. 88% of anaemic girls had attained menarche.…”

“…The mean intake of macro nutrients was adequate but of micronutrients especially iron (13.6±1.420 mg) was less than 70% compared to EAR among the Adolescent girls. Bodat et al in their study reported mean iron intake of 6.3 ±2.2mg/dl which was not even 25% of RDA (mg/day) [15]. Regarding knowledge towards anaemia, only 21% knew about anaemia & 7.5% knew about causes of anaemia.…”

Prevalence, knowledge, and related factor of anemia among school-going adolescent girls in a remote area of western Rajasthan

“…[ 13 ] Bodat et al . [ 14 ] observed that the overall prevalence of anemia among school-going adolescent girls in a rural area of Pune, Maharashtra was 87.60%, with 47.06%, 52.48%, and 0.46% of the girls having mild, moderate, and severe anemia, respectively.…”