Impact of Interventions on the Iron Nutriture of Adolescent Girls 13 to 18 Yrs and Young Women 19 to 35 Yrs from Rural Coimbatore

Abstract

The risk of developing anaemia and malnutrition is highest among adolescent girls. newlineNutrition inadequacy during crucial period of adolescence may have serious health related newlineconsequences during adolescence as well as throughout life. Anaemia in adolescent girls newlinecontributes to maternal and foetal mortality and morbidity in future. Adolescent girls are newlineconsidered as the backbone of not only healthy but also progressive family and thus future newlinebuilders of healthy community. A cross sectional community based study was conducted to newlineestimate prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls in rural areas and to assess the iron newlinenutritional status of 920 adolescent girls in the age group of 13-18 years studying in Government newlineHigher Secondary Schools hailing from different rural areas of Karamadai of Coimbatore District. newlineThe study design is multistage sampling design. Relevant data on, anthropometric measurements, newlinebiochemical investigations, clinical examination, and morbidity was recorded in pre-designed, pretested newlineproforma. Hemoglobin estimation (Cyanmethaemoglobin method) revealed the prevalence newlineof anaemia among adolescent girls (N =920) and it was reported that 59.5 per cent of the girls had newlinemoderate level of anaemia and 39.5 percent of them were reported with mild level of anaemia. A newlinesubsample of 165 moderate anaemic subjects are categorized in to Group 1 (Nutrition Education newlineFood supplement intervention), Group 2 (Nutrition Education Kitchen garden intervention) and newlineGroup 3 (Nutrition Education intervention) and subjected to respective intervention for about four newlinemonths. Analysis of blood haemoglobin exhibited significant increase in haemoglobin level newlineamong the subjects belonging to Group 1(t = 14.56**), Group 2 (t = 8.73**) and Group 3 (t = newline10.45**) after intervention. In general the intervention has brought about reduction of anemia newlinefrom moderate level to mild anemia (83.7 per cent) and from mild anaemia to normal level (16 per newlinecent). Continuous nutrition education, kitchen garden activity and adequate intake of newlinemicronut