Association of BMI, socioeconomic status and menarche age with anemia in rural school going adolescent girls

Abstract

Background: India has the world’s highest prevalence of anemia among women and adolescent girls. Rural adolescent girls are particularly vulnerable to develop anemia. Aims and Objectives: To study the prevalence of anemia in rural school going adolescent girlsand its associated factors like BMI, socioeconomic status and age at menarche. Materials and Methods: A prospective study was carried out among 1200 adolescent girls (12-16 yrs) of 10 randomly selected government schools. BMI, Socioeconomic status by modified kuppuswami Classification, Menarche age by history andhemoglobin by cyanmethemoglobin method of all adolescent girls were obtained and analysed statistically. Results: Theoverall prevalence of anemia in rural adolescent girls was 54.2%, highest 63.3% was in the age group of 13 to 14yrs, 30%suffered from moderate anemia. BMI categorization showed 48.6%, 42.2%,9% and 1.2% adolescent girls were normal, underweight, overweight and obese respectively. Underweight adolescent girls were significantly anemic(74.2%) compared to normal48.6%, overweight39.2% and obese 40%.Class V and IV of socioeconomic status adolescent girlswere significantly anemic 74.7% and 60% respectively when compared to Class III(42.6%), Class II(42.85 %) and Class I(12%).The adolescent girls having menarche ≤13yrs had significant anemia. Conclusion: The prevalence of anemia in rural adolescent girls was high.Underweight,class V andIVsocioeconomic status and earlier age at menarche girls were at risk of developing anemia.Thegovernments anemia prevention and control programme should focus on rural adolescent girls.