Prevalence of Anemia Among Adolescent Girls in a Rural Area of Tamil Nadu, India.

BACKGROUND: Anemia accounts for a majority of the nutritional problem across the globe. The prevalence of anemia is inordinately higher among developing nations, because of low socioeconomic status and indigent access to the healthcare services. Adolescent period is signalized by marked physical activity and rapid growth spurt; therefore they need additional nutritional supplements and are at utmost risk of developing nutritional anemia. This study was carried out to find out the prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional study conducted among 255 adolescent girls. After getting informed consent from the subjects, the information regarding age, sociodemographic status, menstrual history, and short clinical details were recorded. Blood samples were collected and analyzed using automated hematology analyser. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Overall prevalence of anemia was found to be 48.63% (n = 124). The majority of the anemic girls (55.64%, n = 69) were having mild degree of anemia. Among 255 girls, 188 (73.73%) were from the early adolescent age group (10-14 years). Prevalence of anemia (52.24%) was high among the late adolescents and those belonging to low socioeconomic class. CONCLUSION: There is a significant relationship between anemia and socioeconomic status, dietary modification, nutritional supplementation, and helminth control; in addition, compliance with consumption of iron and folic acid tablets will prevent anemia to a great extent among adolescent girls.

Effect of Azadirachta indica Crude Bark Extracts Concentrations against Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacterial Pathogens.

BACKGROUND: Today's pharmaceutical markets are crowded with antibacterial agents, yet their toxicities and resistance are always contentious. Azadirachta indica is used in India as an age-old treatment for diverse medical conditions. This study was put forth to analyze the antibacterial action of A. indica bark extract on different bacterial pathogens. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A. indica bark extract was prepared using Soxhlet extraction method. The bark extract of A. indica was screened for antibacterial activity by agar well diffusion assay technique against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Proteus mirabilis. Ciprofloxacin (5 µg per disc) was used as positive control. All assays were carried out under strict aseptic precautions. All the concentrations included were duplicated, and the results obtained were the average of two independent experiments. Broth microdilution method was used to study the minimum inhibitory concentration of the bark extract of A. indica. RESULTS: A. indica bark extract has shown antibacterial activity against all concentrations of bark extract, whereas antibacterial activity against S. aureus was observed at higher concentration of >500 µg/mL. The bark extract of A. indica showed zone of clearance against E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, and P. mirabilis at all concentrations. Zone of inhibition was observed in higher concentrations against S. aureus. CONCLUSION: This study has shown that A. indica bark extract has a potent antibacterial property against S. aureus, E. faecalis, P. aeruginosa, and P. mirabilis. Further isolation of bioactive compounds may lead to a new scope in the treatment of bacterial infections.