Prevalence and correlates of anaemia in adolescents in Riyadh city, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence and correlates of anaemia in male and female adolescents in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.


METHODS
A cross-sectional community-based study.


METHODS
Five primary health-care centres in Riyadh.


METHODS
We invited 203 male and 292 female adolescents aged 13-18 years for interview, anthropometric measurements and complete blood count. Blood Hb was measured with a Coulter Cellular Analysis System using the light scattering method.


RESULTS
Using the WHO cut-off of Hb<12 g/dl, 16·7 % (n 34) of males and 34·2 % (n 100) of females were suffering from anaemia. Mean Hb in males and females was 13·5 (sd 1·4) and 12·3 (sd 1·2) g/dl, respectively. Values for mean cell volume, mean cell Hb, mean corpuscular Hb concentration and red cell distribution width in male and female adolescents were 77·8 (sd 6·2) v. 76·4 (sd 10·3) μm(3), 26·1 (sd 2·7) v. 25·5 (sd 2·6) pg, 32·7 (sd 2·4) v. 32·2 (sd 2·6) g/dl and 13·9 (sd 1·4) v. 13·6 (sd 1·3) %, respectively. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that a positive family history of Fe-deficiency anaemia (OR=4·7; 95 % CI 1·7, 12·2), infrequent intake (OR=3·7; 95 % CI 1·3, 10·0) and never intake of fresh juices (OR=3·5; 95 % CI 1·4, 9·5) and being 13-14 years of age (OR=3·1; 95 % CI 1·2, 9·3) were significantly associated with anaemia in male adolescents; whereas in females, family history of Fe-deficiency anaemia (OR=3·4; 95 % CI 1·5, 7·6), being overweight (OR=3·0; 95 % CI 1·4, 6·1), no intake of fresh juices (OR=2·6; 95 % CI 1·4, 5·1), living in an apartment (OR=2·0; 95 % CI 1·1, 3·8) and living in a small house (OR=2·5; 95 % CI 1·2, 5·3) were significantly associated with anaemia.


CONCLUSIONS
Anaemia is more prevalent among Saudi female adolescents as compared with males. Important factors like positive family history of Fe-deficiency anaemia, overweight, lack of fresh juice intake and low socio-economic status are significantly associated with anaemia in adolescents.
1Princess Nora Bint Abdullah Chair for Women's Health Research,Research Chair Program,King Saud University,PO Box 231831,Riyadh 11321,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Al-Johara M
AJ
Alquaiz
3Gulf Ministry of Health,Riyadh,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Tawfik Am
TA
Khoja
4Council of Cooperative Health Insurance,Ministry of Health,Riyadh,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah
A
Alsharif
1Princess Nora Bint Abdullah Chair for Women's Health Research,Research Chair Program,King Saud University,PO Box 231831,Riyadh 11321,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Ambreen
A
Kazi
2Department of Family & Community Medicine,College of Medicine,King Saud University,Riyadh,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Ashry Gad
AG
Mohamed
5Ministry of Health,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
Hamad
H
Al Mane
6Central Hospital Laboratory,Ministry of Health,Riyadh,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Abdullah
A
Aldiris
2Department of Family & Community Medicine,College of Medicine,King Saud University,Riyadh,Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Shaffi Ahamed
SA
Shaikh
D000293:Adolescent; D017195:Adolescent Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D018798:Anemia, Iron-Deficiency / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000191:economics / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000191:economics; D005192:Family Health / Q000208:ethnology; D005260:Female; D005511:Food Handling; D000067030:Fruit and Vegetable Juices; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D009752:Nutritional Status; D050177:Overweight / Q000150:complications; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012306:Risk; D012423:Rural Health / Q000191:economics; D012529:Saudi Arabia / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors
Adolescents; Anaemia; Correlates; Family history of Fe-deficiencyanaemia; Fresh juices; Overweight