Risk Factors and Nutritional Assessment among Early Adolescent Girls with Iron Deficiency Anemia in Damanhour City

Abstract

Background: The physical and physiological changes that occur in adolescents place a great demand on their nutrition and put them at risk for Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA). Anemia in the adolescence causes reduced physical and mental capacity and diminished concentration in work and educational performance, and also poses a major threat to future safe motherhood in girls. Aims: this study aimed to identify the risk factors for IDA among school girls and to assess nutritional status of girl students with IDA in Damanhour city. Design: A case control study design was adopted to carry out this study. Setting: the study was conducted at 1 urban and 8 rural preparatory school girls. Subjects: The total number of the randomly selected girls was 240 preparatory school girls (120 girl student as cases who have anemia and the same number of girls recruited in control group). Tools: data was collected using three tools; tool (I) entitled adolescent girl's students profile structured interview questionnaire, tool (II) entitled nutritional practices of adolescent girl student's, and tool (III) namely anthropometric measurements tool. Results: according to multivariate analysis logistic regression girls’ students with low parent education, rural residence, and those with intestinal parasite infection were identified as predictors of IDA. Moreover, poor eating habits and menstrual history also played a significant role in the development of anemia. The relationship between academic performance and anemia was very significant in this study. Recommendations: Intensify supplementation and or food fortification programs to include iron for school age group. Conduct school’s breakfast program, carry out laboratory investigations for anemia, develop school nutrition education programs in curriculum and conduct national nutritional situation analysis survey.

Key words: Early adolescent, Nutritional assessment, Risk factors, Iron Deficiency Anemia & Damanhour city.