The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia among adolescent girls and impact of health and nutrition education programme in changing their dietary behaviour. A sample of 200 adolescent girls was selected from different government schools of district Srinagar in order to arrive at dependable conclusion. A structured interview schedule was prepared and simple language was used but still in some schools questions had to be explained in local Kashmiri language to obtain appropriate information from the respondents. The study reveals that:
1. While analyzing the heights (cm) for adolescent girls both in normal and anaemic group it was found that there is statistically significant difference between the adolescent girls of particular age group (15 years) and recommended values. In case of weights (kg) there is insignificant difference between the adolescent girls and recommended values.
2. The BMI analysis of adolescent girls showed that 64.7% of the subjects had low weight, 56.9% had normal weight and 33.3% subjects were overweight.
3. Majority of the adolescent girls were found to be anemic. The baseline hemoglobin level of the adolescent girls was 9.8±1.7g%. After three months of intervention of Health and Nutrition Education Programme, the hemoglobin levels were increased and the levels were between 10.4±1.4g%.
4. The clinical assessment of the adolescent girls showed the signs of nutritional deficiencies. The menstrual history of adolescent girls showed 57.1% of the subjects were of the age of 12 years or more. 57.8% of the adolescent girls belonged to the category that had duration of flow for 3-4 days. 59.1% of the subjects had menstrual cycle duration of 28 days where as 55.6% had less than 28 days. It was observed that 58.1% of the subjects had regular menarche and 44.0 % had irregular menarche periods. Majority of the adolescent girls did not have history of past illnesses.
5. It was concluded that majority of the adolescent girls (56.6%) had iron deficiency anaemia.
Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
Risk Factor of Anaemia
Causes of Anaemia
Stages of Anaemia
Nutritional Requirement during Adolescents
Objectives of the Study
2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE
3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Material Selection
Development of Questionnaire
Clinical and Bio Chemical Assessment
Nutrition Education
Procedure
4. RESULTS
5. DISCUSSION
6. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS
Research Objectives and Focus Areas
The primary objective of this research is to evaluate the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia among adolescent girls and to determine the effectiveness of a structured health and nutrition education programme in improving their dietary habits and hemoglobin levels.
- Assessment of iron deficiency anaemia through bio-chemical testing and clinical evaluation.
- Evaluation of nutritional status via anthropometric measurements.
- Analysis of dietary patterns and 24-hour dietary recalls among the study group.
- Implementation and impact analysis of a targeted Health and Nutrition Education Programme.
- Investigation of socio-demographic factors influencing nutritional status.
Excerpt from the Book
CAUSES OF ANAEMIA
Iron-deficiency anaemia (IDA), often caused by insufficient iron intake, is the major cause of anaemia in childhood. It has become much less common in the United States over the past 30 years, primarily due to iron-fortified infant formulas and cereals. Iron-deficiency anaemia doesn't develop immediately. Instead, a person progresses through stages of iron deficiency, beginning with iron depletion, in which the amount of iron in the body is reduced while the iron in RBCs remains constant. If iron depletion isn't corrected, it progresses to iron deficiency, eventually leading to IDA. Not having enough iron in our body causes iron-deficiency anaemia. Lack of iron usually is due to blood loss, poor diet, or an inability to absorb enough iron from the foods that we eat.
Blood loss
When one loses blood, one loses iron. If enough iron is not stored in one’s body to make up for the iron loss, the person develops iron-deficiency anaemia. In women, low iron levels may be due to blood loss from long or heavy menstrual periods or bleeding fibroids in the uterus. Blood loss that occurs during childbirth is another cause for low iron levels in women. Internal bleeding (bleeding inside the body) also may lead to iron-deficiency anaemia. This type of blood loss isn’t always obvious, and it may occur slowly. Some causes of internal bleeding are:
• A bleeding ulcer, colon polyp, or colon cancer
• Regular use of aspirin or other pain medicines, such as no steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (for example, ibuprofen and naproxen)
• Urinary tract bleeding
Summary of Chapters
INTRODUCTION: This chapter provides an overview of adolescent development, the physiological importance of iron, and the high prevalence of anaemia in India, establishing the study's research objectives.
REVIEW OF LITERATURE: This chapter systematically surveys historical and contemporary research regarding adolescent development, anaemia prevalence, and the effectiveness of previous interventions in various socio-economic contexts.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: This chapter outlines the study design, including the selection of schools in district Srinagar, the development of questionnaires, anthropometric techniques, and the implementation of the nutrition education intervention.
RESULTS: This chapter presents the data gathered from the study, providing a detailed statistical analysis of the respondents' demographic profiles, nutritional status, and clinical signs.
DISCUSSION: This chapter interprets the findings in the context of existing literature, discussing demographic, anthropometric, and clinical associations with anaemic conditions.
CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS: This chapter summarizes the study's conclusions regarding the prevalence of anaemia and offers specific policy and educational recommendations for school-based interventions.
Keywords
Anaemia, Iron Deficiency, Adolescent Girls, Nutrition Education, Hemoglobin, Anthropometry, Dietary Habits, Public Health, Micronutrient Deficiency, Srinagar, Socio-demographic factors, Intervention Programme, Clinical Assessment, Bio-chemical Tests, Menstrual Health.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on assessing the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia among adolescent girls in the Srinagar district and evaluating the effectiveness of a targeted nutrition education programme in changing their dietary behavior.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
The study covers demographic factors, anthropometric measurements, clinical signs of nutritional deficiency, dietary history, and menstrual health in relation to anaemia.
What is the primary objective of this study?
The primary goal is to assess anaemia levels via bio-chemical tests, evaluate nutritional status, and measure changes in hemoglobin levels after implementing an educational intervention.
What scientific methods were employed?
The study used a combination of questionnaire-based surveys, interviews, anthropometric measurements (height, weight, BMI), and clinical examinations, complemented by bio-chemical tests for hemoglobin, serum iron, and serum ferritin.
What topics are discussed in the main body?
The main body treats the physiological risks of anaemia, the etiology of the condition, a review of global and local prevalence literature, and the detailed presentation of the study’s analytical results.
Which keywords best characterize the work?
Key terms include Iron Deficiency Anaemia, Adolescent Girls, Nutrition Education, Dietary Behaviour, and Public Health.
How did the study address the language barrier during data collection?
The researchers used simple language in the questionnaires and provided explanations in the local Kashmiri language where necessary to ensure clarity for the respondents.
What role does the local diet play in the study findings?
The study identifies rice as a primary staple diet and analyzes its contribution alongside other dietary habits to the iron deficiency status of the participants.
What specific interventions were used to educate the girls?
The intervention involved the use of visual aids like posters and charts, along with lectures focused on food groups, iron-rich foods, and the importance of Vitamin C for iron absorption.
- Quote paper
- Roshina Bashir (Author), Prof. Dr. Nilofer Khan (Author), 2013, Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anaemia among Adolescent Girls, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/213491
