Prevalence of Anemia among School Going Adolescent Girls and Boys (10-18 Years) In South India- A Community Based Cross Sectional Study

Abstract

Introduction: Anemia has been reported as a major public health problem in developing and developed countries. The incidence of anemia had been found more in the adolescent age group and women. The adolescent period is the most important period from the productivity point of view. Objective: To assess the prevalence of anemia among adolescent boys and girls (10-18 years) in Nagari. Methods: A community-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in Nagari, the duration of the data collection period was three months, and data was collected using a pretested, semi-structured questionnaire. Blood samples were collected and Hemoglobin level was also estimated using Hemocue (Hb 301) and participants were classified as having normal, mild, moderate, and severe anemia based on the World health organization grading of anemia. Results: The prevalence of anemia ranges from severe, moderate, and mild anemia in girls was 0.5%, 10.6%, and 27.9% respectively and 25% of them were under normal hemoglobin level. Among 200 respondents 84.5% of the respondents were under the healthy weight category, 12% of them are underweight, 3% of them were over-weight & 0.5% of them were obese. Conclusions: In the present study, the overall prevalence of anemia was found to be 39% in adolescent girls and 8% in adolescent boys. Compared to school-going boys the prevalence of anemia was higher among school- going girls. Early detection of anemia can decrease mortality rates, improve the quality of life, and other consequences like postpartum hemorrhage, low birth weight baby.