The Burden of Nutritional Anaemia Among Adolescent Girls in Muzaffarpur District of Bihar
The Burden of Nutritional Anaemia Among Adolescent Girls in Muzaffarpur District of Bihar
The Burden of Nutritional Anaemia Among Adolescent Girls in Muzaffarpur District of Bihar
I.
INTRODUCTION
No
Anae
mia
11
Mild
anaemia
Moderat
e
anaemia
7-9.9
Severe
anaemia
Children
6-59
10-10.9
<7
months
Children
5-11 11.5
11-11.4
8-10.9
<8
years
Children
12-14 12
11-11.9
8-10.9
<8
years
Non-pregnant
12
11-11.9
8-10.9
<8
women (15 yrs of
age and above)
Pregnant women
11
10-10.9
7-9.9
<7
Men
13
11-12.9
8-10.9
<8
Source: Haemoglobin concentration for the diagnosis of
anaemia and assessment of severity. WHO
III. RESULTS
Study revealed that majority of the respondents 54%
belongs to middle cast, 32% belongs to low cast and only 14%
were from high caste. Maximum number of families 52% had
medium size followed by 41% and 7% had large and small
size respectively. It is evident that majority of the respondents
50% belonged to income group earning from Rs. 15,000
20,000 , 23% having monthly income of Rs 20,001 -25,000
,18% respondents having monthly income 25,001- 30,000, the
remaining respondents 9% were from income group Rs30,001
and above.
A detailed and relevant history of 167 study cases
revealed that 58% girl students were vegetarian and 42% were
non vegetarians. Improper education and dearth of awareness
among mothers results in poor health of adolescents. Majority
of the subject 78% had unsatisfactory knowledge about the
iron rich food rich food, 17% had intermediate and only 5%
had satisfactory knowledge about the iron rich food. 71% had
unsatisfactory knowledge about Vitamine C rich food. The
intake of cereals and millets was 33.3% more than their
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IV. CONCLUSION
The burden of iron deficiency amongst adolescents is
rising. The overall prevalence of anaemia among adolescent
females was found to be 49.1%. CMS Rawat et al. found
35.1% prevalence of anemia among adolescent females in
Meerut. The National family Health Survey (NHFS-3)
conducted in 2005-2006 presents the statistics that 56% of
adolescents are anaemic. A recent study in adolescent girls of
rural Wardha, India (Kaur S et al, 2006) found prevalence of
anemia to be 59.8%. Toteja GS et al found 90.1% prevalence
of anaemia among adolescent girls from 16 districts of India,
with 7.1% having severe anaemia. It is seen that anemia
affects the overall nutritional status of adolescent females. The
awareness regarding anaemia and appropriate diet is very poor
in adolescent girls. In Bihar, adolescent girls face serious
health problems due to socioeconomic conditions, nutrition
and gender discrimination. The burden of anaemia is also due
to parent's educational status. This should be supported by
programs for the prevention of anemia among adolescent girls
through nutrition education and anemia prophylaxis.
REFERENCES
[1] Balasubramaniam P (2005). Health needs of poor
unmarried adolescent girls. A community based study in
rural Tamilnadu. Indian Journal of Population education
28 29 18-33.
[2] ICRW (2001). Reducing anemia and changing dietary
behaviors among adolescent girls in Maharashtra, India.
(http://www.org/files/images/) ICRW (2006). Intervention
needed to brea Silence on reproductive health. A report.
[3] Jain SP (1999). Body weight and nutritional status of
adolescesnt School children in rural north India. Indian
Pediatrics 36 810-815.
www.ijsres.com
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