A Cross-sectional Study of Anemia Among Medical Students and its Impact on Learning, Physical and Emotional Well-being

Abstract

Objective: To measure the prevalence of anemia and its effect on physical activity, learning skills and social, emotional impact in medical students. Background: Anemia is a general health issue which severely affects young adults during an intense growth period. The vast nature of medical curriculum demands hard efforts and hectic study schedule medical students at risk of anemia due to irregular eating habits which affects their learning skills and physical activity. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was conducted among medical students (1st year and 2nd year) of Hazrat Bari Sarkar (HBS) Medical College), Islamabad, by administering a structured questionnaire. This was a year study from August 2023 to July 2024. Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, along with venous blood samples. An automated hematology analyzer located in the Department of Pathology was used to measure hemoglobin. Data Analysis was performed by appropriate statistical tests, and statistical significance was set at P-values <0.05. Conclusion: More than half the students in our medical school were anemic and had a negative impact on their learning, physical and social well-being. This could possibly be due to their poor eating habits. The memory and academic performance of students can be improved by correction of anemia.