Anemia and Its Associated Factors among Final-Year Medical Students at Sana'a University, Yemen

Mogahid Y Nassar Mogahid Y Nassar,Ala'a Maresh Ala'A Maresh,Narmeen Al-Ariqi Narmeen Al-Ariqi,Aisha Mohammed Aisha Mohammed,Wafa'a Al-Hammadi Wafa'A Al-Hammadi,Fatima Mohammed Fatima Mohammed,Hadeer Al-Ariqi Hadeer Al-Ariqi,Fatima Abdurubbu Fatima Abdurubbu,Reem Al-Maqtari Reem Al-Maqtari,Ahmed S Hudna Ahmed S Hudna

doi:10.20428/yjms.15.1.a2

Mogahid Y Nassar Mogahid Y Nassar, Ala'a Maresh Ala'A Maresh + Show 8 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.20428/yjms.15.1.a2

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Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of anemia and its associated risk factors among final-year medical students at Sana'a University, Yemen. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted among 269 final year students randomly selected from the medical faculties of Sana'a University in the period from January to April 2018. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, while venous blood samples were collected by venipuncture into EDTA tubes. Hemoglobin (Hb) concentration was estimated using an automated hematology analyzer in the Laboratory Department of the University of Science and Technology in Sana’a city. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests, and statistical significance was considered at P-values <0.05. Results: The mean Hb concentration of final-year medical students at Sana’a University was 15.1 ± 1.9 g/dL. The mean Hb concentration for male students was 16.3 ± 1.5 g/dL, while the mean Hb concentration for female students was 13.1 ± 1.5 g/dL. Anemia was prevalent among 12 (4.5%) out of 269 medical students and was significantly associated with the gender and smoking status of the students, where females (OR = 5.9, 95% CI: 1.8–27.4; P = 0.011) and smokers (OR = 6.3, 95% CI: 1.2–3.7; P = 0.002) were about six times more likely to be anemic compared to their counterparts. In contrast, there was no statistically significant association between anemia and age, family size, family income, presence of chronic disease(s), khat chewing, exercise, or history of blood transfusion. Conclusions: The prevalence of anemia among final-year medical students at Sana'a University is low compared to other studies elsewhere. The female gender and smoking are the risk factors significantly associated with anemia among medical students. Further large-scale studies among medical and non-medical students from different levels of study at public and private universities of the country are recommended.

Highlights

Anemia is a public health problem in developed and developing countries, affecting human health as well as social and economic development.[1, 2] It negatively affects growth and energy levels, impairs the immune system and increases morbidity, in pregnant women and children.[1, 3] Young children from low-income families are at a higher risk of developing anemia due to iron deficiency that occurs because of the increased demand for iron during the phase of rapid growth.[4]Anemia affects about 24.8% of the world’s population, with the highest prevalence among pre-schoolchildren and the lowest prevalence among men.[2]
Table [2] shows that anemia among medical students at Sana’a University was significantly associated with the gender and smoking status of the students, where females (OR = 5.9, 95% CI: 1.8–27.4; P = 0.011) and smokers (OR = 6.3, 95% CI: 1.2–3.7; P = 0.002) were about six times more likely to be anemic compared to their counterparts
The economic blockade, poverty and psychological pressures on students in Yemen, the overall prevalence of anemia in this study was 4.5%, and all of them are only anemic according to the cut-off points recommended by World Health Organization (WHO).[7]. In contrast to the finding of the present study, a high prevalence ranging between 29.3% and 70.8% was reported for anemia among medical students from India.[9–13] Such variability in anemia prevalence can be attributed to multiple factors, including lifestyle, housing situation, nutrition awareness and socioeconomic status

Summary

Introduction

Anemia is a public health problem in developed and developing countries, affecting human health as well as social and economic development.[1, 2] It negatively affects growth and energy levels, impairs the immune system and increases morbidity, in pregnant women and children.[1, 3] Young children from low-income families are at a higher risk of developing anemia due to iron deficiency that occurs because of the increased demand for iron during the phase of rapid growth.[4]Anemia affects about 24.8% of the world’s population, with the highest prevalence among pre-schoolchildren and the lowest prevalence among men.[2]. Anemia is a public health problem in developed and developing countries, affecting human health as well as social and economic development.[1, 2]. It negatively affects growth and energy levels, impairs the immune system and increases morbidity, in pregnant women and children.[1, 3]. Young people in the second decade of life are in a period of intense growth and are exposed to major physical and psychological changes They are more prone to anemia due to increased demand for iron associated with the rapid growth as well as changing growth patterns, lifestyles, nutritional habits and behaviors along with their college work.[6]. The present study aimed to determine anemia prevalence and its associated risk factors among the medical students at Sana'a University, Yemen

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Conclusion