Effectiveness of comprehensive intervention package on bio physiological and psychological parameters among anaemic adolescent girls

Abstract

The prevalence of anaemia among adolescent girls is alarming and newlineneeds immediate control to prevent anaemia. The most common cause of newlineanaemia worldwide is iron deficiency resulting from prolonged negative iron newlinebalance. This is mainly caused by inadequate dietary iron, increased iron loss newlineas a result of menstruation, helminthic infestation, and increased need of iron newlineduring growth periods. The prevalence of anaemia is highly associated with newlinesocio and demographic factors. Nowadays majority of mothers are working newlinewomen and do not spend adequate time to concentrate on their diet and very newlineeasily adhere to fast food. Moreover, they do not consume adequate newlinevegetables in addition to their lack of knowledge of the nutrient content of the newlineconsumed diet. Adolescent girls are more particular of their body shape which newlineleads to skipping of main nutritious meals and go about snacking with junk newlinefoods. All these factors push the girls irrespective of rich or poor to become anaemic during the productive age. Todayand#8223;s adolescent girls are going to be newlinethe future mothers; hence well-nourished and healthy adolescents will be newlinehealthier during their productive ages. newlineRecognising the basic facts and complexity of anaemia requires newlineintegrated strategies to prevent and control anaemia. For successful newlineprevention and control of anaemia, education on nutrition is essential to newlinepromote healthy choices with iron supplementation. Schools provide an ideal newlinevenue for nutrition and health education. Anaemia is a serious health problem newlinewhich lowers overall productivity, physical work capacity, cognitive function newlineand quality of life. This is highly preventable and treatable with the existing newlineknowledge and proper motivation. Hence this study was undertaken with a newlineforesight of the prevention and control of anaemia among adolescent girls.