Prevalence of anaemia and its associated factors among adolescent girls: a community based study

Background: Anemia is a major nutritional problem in adolescent girls in many developing countries. Anaemia prior to pregnancy is likely to affect fetal health and survival and therefore it is necessary to evaluate the nutritional needs in this vulnerable group. To know the prevalence of anaemia and its associated factors among adolescent girls residing in the urban field practice area of S. Nijalingappa Medical College, Bagalkot. Methods: A community based cross sectional study. A field practice areas of the urban health training centers, Department of Community Medicine, S. Nijalingappa Medical College in Bagalkot. 400 unmarried adolescent girls were participants. Systematic random sampling. Data was tabulated in Microsoft Excel 2010 and analyzed by using Open Epi software. Data was collected through predesigned, semi-structured questionnaire through house to house visits. Haemoglobin estimation was done by Sahli’s method and anaemia was classified based on WHO criteria. Results: The prevalence of anaemia was 63.3%. Factors associated with anemia were age, mother’s literacy, SES, type of family, environmental sanitation and tea consumption. Conclusions: Prevalence of anaemia is high and is a major public health problem in this area. Health education and periodical haemoglobin estimation followed by supplementation of iron would help in reduction and prevention of anaemia.

Variability and accuracy of sahli’s method in estimation of haemoglobin concentration.

Background: Haemoglobin concentration provides information about the status of anaemia in the population. Haemoglobin estimation is the routine and frequently performed screening haematological test of laboratory services. The Type of methods used and sites of collection of blood samples has found to make differences in haemoglobin concentration. The methods used in routine measurement are needed to be adjusted to obtain comparability with the haemiglobincyanide method. So the present study was undertaken with a objective to test the reliability of Sahli’s method in estimation of haemoglobin concentration and standardizing it in district hospital laboratory of Dhule in Maharashtra. Material & Methodology: Haemoglobin concentration (gm/dl) in blood is compared in 173 apparently healthy medical college students within 18 to 23 years age. Results from Sahli’s method were compared to Haemiglobincyanide (HiCN) method within capillary and venous blood of same subjects. Results: Sahli’s method has lower values than Haemiglobincyanide method with mean difference of 0.62gms/dl(95%CI; 0.51 to 0.73, p<0.01) in capillary blood and 1.1gms/dl(95%CI; 0.92 to 1.26, p<0.01) in venous blood. By Sahli’s method’s ability to diagnose anaemia has sensitivity of 83.7% & 90% and specificity of 63.2% & 60.2% in capillary & venous blood respectively. Sahli’s method has significant (p<0.01) positive correlation coefficient in capillary blood & venous blood. Variability of haemoglobin concentration in Sahli’s method is less in capillary blood then venous blood in caparison to HiCN method. Interpretation & conclusion: Sahli’s method had lower values of haemoglobin in capillary and venous blood compared to HiCN method. Haemoglobin concentration was lower in capillary blood than venous blood by both methods. For Accuracy of Sahli’s method the correction factor should be considered to ensure comparability of results with the reference method.