Nutritional Anemia in the Medical Students.

ABSTRACT

Background: Nutritional anaemia is very much prevalent and largely undiagnosed among students in Professional Institutes. Various socio-demographic characteristics like age, sex, social class, dietary habits, and infections are the etiological factors for nutritional anaemia. Objectives: To study the nutritional anaemia and its correlates among the MBBS. Medical Students of Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly in Western U.P. Materials and Methods: The study was done on 100 MBBS students. Haemoglobin estimation was performed by Sahli’s Haemoglobinometer and observations were interpreted as per the WHO criteria. The data was analyzed by SPSS Statistical software. Results: In the present study on 100 Medical students, 32.0% students were anaemic, out of which 44.0% were girls and 20.0% boys. 25.0% students had mild anaemia. Majority (81.8%) of anaemic students were undernourished as per their Body Mass Index. Conclusions: Haemoglobin estimation of students at the time of entrance to Medical Colleges should be done. Iron and folic acid tablets and deworming drugs in therapeutic doses should be provided to anaemic students. The students should be motivated and educated to take balanced diet, rich in green leafy vegetables and fruits as nutritional anaemia is totally preventable.