Prevalence of Anemia among Adolescent Girls in an Urban Slum Area of Kolkata

Abstract

Introduction: One of the main public health issues in India is nutritional anemia. A sensitive stage in the human life cycle for the emergence of nutritional anemia is adolescence. Adolescent female anemia increases future maternal and fetal death and morbidity. Adolescent anemia prevalence is 6% in wealthy nations and 27% in impoverished nations. Objectives: The study was done with the objective to study the prevalence of anaemia among adolescent girls of selected urban slum of Kolkata. Methods: This cross sectional community based study was conducted among 100 adolescent girls in Tangra, an urban slum area of Kolkata from April 2024-June 2024. Information regarding socio-demographic and other factors was recorded in pre-designed, pre -tested proforma. Hemoglobin estimation was done by Sahli’s haemoglobinometer. Data was analyzed by mean, standard deviation and chi square test. Results: Anaemia was present in 54% girls. Out of which 35.19% had mild, 46.30% had moderate and 18.52% had severe anaemia. Mean age of menarche was 10.64 years. 73 (73%) study participants have attained menarche and out of them 38 (52.05%) were found to be anaemic. 36% knew improper diet as a cause of anaemia followed by Vitamin deficiency (32%) and iron deficiency (27%). 34% girls did not know any cause of anaemia. Similarly 32% and 52% of study participants did not know of any symptoms and treatment of anaemia respectively. Conclusions: Among study participants, anemia was quite prevalent overall. All girls should receive nutrition instruction, iron folic acid pills, and dietary supplements.