Abstract

PREVALENCE OF ANAEMIA AMONG THE ADOLESCENT GIRLS: A THREE MONTHS CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Nalluri. Kranthi Koushik*, Mounica. Bollu, Nallani.Venkata Ramarao,  P.Sharmila Nirojini, Rama Rao. Nadendla.

ABSTRACT

Background: Anaemia is a common malady in the developing world with wide spread prevalence especially among the adolescent girls. India has the world‟s highest prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia among the women, with 60 to 70 % of the adolescent girls being anaemic. Adolescence is considered as a nutritionally critical period of the life. However, the prevalence of anaemia in female adolescent age group in association with diet is still an understudied subject. Objectives: To assess the prevalence and the severity of the anaemia among the adolescent girls. Results: The prevalence of anaemia was 77.33% (with that of severe anaemia being 12.06%, that of moderate anaemia being 50.86% and that of mild anaemia being 37.06%.majority of the girls had the moderate anaemia. The prevalence of anaemia was considerably high among the adolescent girls who belongs to the lower socio-economic status. Conclusion: The present study revealed anaemia to be a major public health problem among adolescents. A high prevalence of anaemia was found among the adolescent girls, which was considerably high in the late adolescents. There was a significant association of anaemia with the socio-economic status.

Keywords: Adolescent girls, Anemia, highest prevalence