To study the prevalence of undernutrition and anemia in adolescents in Bundelkhand region

Abstract

Introduction: Bundelkhand region is well known for its poverty from last 5 years this region is also affected by drought, due to this nutritional problems are increasing day by day. Till now no study has been conducted to find out the nutritional status of adolescent in Bundelkhand region. So this is an attempts to find out the prevalence of under nutrition and anemia in the adolescents age group in this region. Aims: To study the prevalence of anemia in adolescent by various haematological parameters along with serum iron and total iron binding capacity (TIBC). Settings and Design: Retrospective and Prospective analysis. Materials and Methods: The study was conducted in the department of pathology active collaboration with department of pediatrics, M.L.B. Medical College, Jhansi. A total of 488 adolescents who were attending the adolescent clinic, out patient department or admitted in ward without any definite cause of anemia like hemolytic anemia, aplastic anemia, malaria or leukemia, and students of a convent school were enrolled in study. Results: In present study the overall prevalence of Anemia was 52.86%. There is more prevalence of anemia in girls (57.38%) than boys (50.53%). Over all the most common type of general blood picture observed was microcytic hypochromic 32.56%, while in early adolescent period it was normocytic normochromic. Serum iron was less than normal in 42.63% cases. Majority of cases (50.38%) show serum iron level in normal range. Total iron binding capacity was >400 in (59.30%) cases. Keywords: Anaemia, Serum iron, Haemoglobim, Microcytic hypochromic anemia.