Cross sectional study on nutritional status and prevalence of anemia in rural adolescents

Abstract

Background: This study is targeted to find out the nutritional status of adolescents in rural population. Studies were done in urban areas of India on nutritional status and anemia prevalence these studies do not reveal the actual prevalence of anemia and malnutrition among adolescents in the rural areas. The purpose of this study is therefore to determine the nutritional status and prevalence of anemia in rural adolescents.Methods: Five hundred and eight rural adolescent school going and non-school going living in villages around A.V.M.C. and H., Pondicherry of age 10 to 19 years of both sexes were chosen by systemic random sampling. Migration populations were excluded from the study.Results: Among 24 Villages, of which 20 Camps were conducted and 508 Adolescents were included. The non-school going constituted 8.27% among male and 27.39% among female. Among the school going males were 42.2% and female were 30.5%. Among male, in the school going group, 33.96% in early, 36.14% of middle and 43.94% of late adolescents were under nourished, whereas in non-school going male, 50% in early, 58.33% of middle and 20% of late adolescents were under nourished. In case of female adolescent, in the school going group, 49.18% in early, 20.59% of middle and 18.42% of late adolescents were under nourished whereas in non-school going female, 14.29% in early, 36.84% of middle and 45.95% of late adolescents were under nourished. Stunting is more common among boys from 10 years of age to 14 years of age than girls. After 14 years of age stunting is more common in girls than boys. The average stunting was 46.18% in male and to 48.1% in females.Conclusions: Under nutrition was found to be a significant problem in both sexes of rural adolescents. Late adolescents were more undernourished in both sexes. Under nutrition was more common in boys than in girls. Anemia was more common in female than in male in both school going and non-school going. Anemia was more common in non-school going than in school going in both sexes. Severe anemia was more common in female of non-school going group.