Hemoglobin status of non-school going adolescent girls in three districts of Orissa, India.
Anemia is a major public health problem in young children and pregnant women in SouthEast Asia, but a paucity of data on anemia in adolescent girls in India. Studies are lacking on the entire non-school going adolescent population.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of anemia in non-school going adolescent girls and the association between hemoglobin (Hb) concentration and socioeconomic and nutritional factors.


METHODS
A cross-sectional community study conducted on a sample of 1937 healthy adolescent girls aged 11-19 years from three districts of Orissa, India.


METHODS
Sample size was determined using a probability proportionate to size cluster sampling. The adolescent girls were interviewed and anthropometric measurements were collected. The Hb estimation was carried out in capillary blood samples using the cyanmethemoglobin method. Anemia and nutritional status were evaluated according to standard procedures.


RESULTS
The mean Hb concentration was 9.7 +/- 1.4 g/dL (range, 4.5-13.4 g/dL). Of the total adolescent girls, 1869 (96.5%) were anemic (Hb < 12.0 g/dL), of which, 45.2%, 46.9% and 4.4% had mild, moderate, and severe anemia, respectively. A significant curvilinear relation was found between Hb concentration and age, with the nadir of the curve occurring in the 12-14 years age group. Girls from Bargarh district had significantly lower mean Hb levels than those from the Jajpur and Khurda districts. Significant positive associations were found between Hb concentration and pre-menarche, community, education levels of girls and their parents' family income, body mass index, and mid-upper arm circumference. This study revealed that prevalence of anemia was extremely high in non-school going adolescent girls (most were moderately anemic) and stressed the need for more research and public health interventions.
Bulliyy
Gandham
G
Regional Medical Research Centre, Indian Council of Medical Research, Bhubaneswar, India. bulliyyag@rediffmail.com
Mallick
Gitanjali
G
Sethy
Girija Sankar
GS
Kar
Santanu Kumar
SK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000740:Anemia / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D009752:Nutritional Status; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
D006454:Hemoglobins