RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Iron deficiency is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in the world, affecting a large number of children and women in developing countries and constituting a public health condition of epidemic proportions. Weekly iron and folic acid supplementation (WIFS) with health education has been demonstrated to be effective in reducing anemia in adolescent school going girls. We assessed the impact of WIFS with and without health education on anemia in adolescent school girls of Delhi. METHODS: This is a school-based intervention study conducted in two government senior secondary schools of Delhi. A total of 210 adolescent school girls from two schools were included in the study. In one school (intervention group), weekly ironfolic acid with health education once a month was given, and in the second school (control group), only WIFS was given for 6 months. Iron-folic acid supplementation containing 100 mg of elemental iron and 0.5 mg of folic acid was given on a weekly basis, and health education was provided once a month for 6 consecutive months. Hemoglobin (Hb) estimation was done at the beginning and the end of the study using the Hemocue method. Mean Hb change after intervention between the control and experimental groups was compared using a t test. Pre and post differences within the control and experimental groups were assessed using a paired-t test. RESULTS: After intervention, there was a significant decline in prevalence of anemia in both the intervention (54.7 percentage points decline) and the control (26 percentage points decline) groups (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: WIFS with once a month health education can be effective in reducing the prevalence of anemia in adolescent school girls.
RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Menstruation is a normal physiological phenomenon for females indicating her capability for procreation. Menstrual problems are common in adolescent girls, which may affect their life and outdoor activities. Adolescent girls with abnormal body mass index (BMI) suffer even more often. OBJECTIVES: To assess the relationship between menstrual patterns and problems with BMI among adolescent school girls of Delhi. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study conducted among 210 adolescent school girls of Delhi. Permission was obtained from principal of the school and written informed consent was taken from the parents of the school girls before taking part in the study. All the data were collected, entered, and analyzed in SPSS 17.0. The data were analyzed using percentages and proportions through tables. RESULTS: Out of 210 adolescent girls, 114 (54.3%) were having BMI <18.5, which implies that >50% of the girls were undernourished. Only 13 (6.2%) of adolescent girls were overweight. Adolescent girls who had BMI <18.5 experienced more symptoms and problems associated with menstrual cycles. This difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Menstrual problems especially dysmenorrhea are frequent among adolescent girls. BMI play a very vital role for menstrual cycle regularity. Consequently, adolescent girls have to be given healthy and balance nutrition, which leads to maintenance of their normal BMI and regulate their menstrual cycle.
