Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: February | Volume: 9 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 27-31
Prevalence of Anaemia among Adolescent Girls: A Cross-Sectional Study
Deepika Anand1, R.K. Anuradha2
1Research Scholar, Department of Home Science, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati
2Professor, Department of Home Science, Sri Venkateswara University, Tirupati
Corresponding Author: Deepika Anand
ABSTRACT
Background: Adolescents are vulnerable to anaemia particularly in developing countries because of increased iron requirements related to their rapid growth spurt. Substantial changes such as dietary habits, life style pattern, behavioural changes are likely to influence the haemoglobin profile of adolescents.
Objectives: The objective of the study was to assess the anthropometric and haemoglobin (Hb) profile of adolescent girls and to study the correlation between haemoglobin profile and Body Mass Index (BMI).
Methods and Materials: In the present study, a total number of 1300 adolescent girls from the age group of 13-17 years were randomly selected for the study from 10 different schools of Puttaparthi Mandal, Anantapur District. A pre-designed and pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect the data regarding anthropometric and haemoglobin profile of the selected subjects. The data analysis was carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) Software.
Results: In the present study, about 31 per cent of the subjects were suffering from mild anaemia, followed by 6 per cent (moderate anaemia) and 3 per cent (severe anaemia). A highly significant (p<0.01), positive correlation of haemoglobin with BMI strata was observed among the subjects with severe thinness and overweight category.
Conclusions: Anaemia during adolescence severely impairs the physiological and cognitive development. There is an urgent need for improving overall nutritional status of adolescent girls employing a multisectorial community-based approach, especially for girls.
Key words: Anaemia, haemoglobin, adolescent girls, Body Mass Index