Prevalence and Factors Influencing Anemia among Adolescent Girls: A Community Based Study

Anemia is a common problem of pregnant women across a developing country like India. The prevention of anemia in adolescent period can reduce its consequences during pregnancy and childbirth. In order find the prevalence and factors influencing anemia, a cross sectional study was conducted in urban filed practice area of Basaveshwara Medical College and Hospital, Chitardurga. A total of 544 adolescent girls were tested for the hemoglobin. The prevalence of anemia was 56.3 % in this study. Age, socio economic status, type of family, education, mother-s education, mother-s occupation and eating habits were found to have non-significant association with occurrence of anemia in this study. Anemia is a complex disorder not only associated with dietary factors but also influenced by other factors. Effective primary health care with iron supplementation added with control of contributing factors can prevent anemia.