Impact of Iron Rich Millet Biscuits in Alleviating Anaemia among Adolescent Girls of Samastipur District

Abstract

Background: Iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) is the most common type of nutritional anaemia which affects people globally. Adolescent period symbolizes the initiating of menstrual period in girls hence, they are at a larger risk for nutritional anaemia. Supplementation, fortification and dietary diversification are the three initiatives for alleviating anaemia. Hence, this present investigation was undertaken with the objective to study the impact of millet based biscuits on haemoglobin level of adolescent girls of Samastipur district. Methods: The haemoglobin level of selected forty adolescent girls aged 17-19 years from Uma Pandey College in Pusa block at Samastipur district were carefully examined before intervention study. Experimental adolescent girls who fell in the Hb level range of < 8 to 11.9 g/dl were intervened with 250 g of T5 millet biscuit for a period of 45 days in order to complement 1/3rd of the regular need of iron for adolescent girls. Result: The mean increase in haemoglobin level after intervention was found to be 1.24 g/dl in experimental girls which indicated the positive impact of millet biscuits on haematological health of anaemic adolescent girls. The present work will be a complementary contribution towards alleviating anaemia among adolescent girls.