PREVALENCE OF ANEMIA AMONG ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN SELECTED AREA OF BIHAR

Tanvi Twara*, Sanskriti Upasna, Ritu Dubey, Aruna Agrawal, G.P Dubey

ABSTRACT

Background: Anemia is a worldwide problem mostly affecting adolescent girls. Developing countries shows very high prevalence rate of anemia in adolescent girls and India its prevalence rate varies from 46% to 98%. This research investigates the prevalence of anemia among girls of Motihari town. Method: After collection of baseline data clinical examination was done. Haemoglobin level of subjects was estimated by using Cyanmethaemoglobin method. Results: Result shows 66 percent prevalence rate of anemia among adolescent girls. Mean height and weight of adolescent girls werecompared with respective NCHS standards and only mean weight shows a significant difference between them. BMI shows 56 percent girls were underweight. Clinical signs and symptoms of anemia were seen in 45 percent adolescent girls. Conclusion: Low family income and large family sizes are associated factors for the prevalence of anemia. Ignorance of female child in most families is another cause of anemia in growing girls. Measures should be taken by government and NGO’s towards improving the iron status of adolescent girls.

Keywords: Nutritional anemia, adolescent girls, Anthropometric status, Cyanmethaemoglobin method.