Nutritional Anemia in Adolescents in Oman

Abstract

Background: Nutritional anemia is one of the main public health problems in the Arab Gulf countries. Several dietary, social and cultural factors are associated with the high occurrence of this anemia in the region. Objectives: To assess the burden of nutritional anemia in adolescent girls and find out the important associates of anemia in girls with respect to their nutritional status and demographic profile. Methods: A community based observational cross sectional study was done in Omani adolescent girls in Sohar. A structured, pretested questionnaire was used for data collection on socio- demographic variables. Body mass index was calculated with weight and height measurements. Hemoglobin was measured using Hemocontrol hemoglobin analyzer using cyanmethemoglobin reference method. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Anemia was defined by Hemoglobin cut off level of 12 g/dL. Results: Mean hemoglobin was 11.8g/dl ± 1.42 S.D and 54% of girls were anemic. Most of the girls had mild to moderate anemia. Most of the anemic girls belonged to grade 10 in the school (p<0.05) The proportion of anemic girls decreased as the level of the mothers’ education increased (p<0.05). Girls with undernourished nutritional status were more anemic (p<0.01). Conclusion: The proportion of anemic girls with mild and moderate anemia was significant and it calls for the need of dietary measures and health education campaigns in schools to curb the problem.