Epidemiological correlates of nutritional anemia in adolescent girls of rural Wardha.

The objectives were to study the epidemiological correlates of nutritional anemia among adolescent girls in rural Wardha. A cross-sectional study was carried out in adolescent girls of four villages of Kasturba Rural Health Training Centre Anji. The relevant information was collected with anthropometric measurements and hemoglobin estimation. Univariate and Multivariate Logistic Regression analysis was done using SPSS 10. The prevalence of anemia was found to be 59.8%. In univariate analysis low socioeconomic status low iron intake vegetarian diet history of worm infestation and history of excessive menstrual bleeding showed significant association with anemia. While Multivariate logistic regression analysis suggested that strongest predictor of anemia was vegetarian diet (OR=5.83 CI=3.73-9.13) followed by history of excessive menstrual bleeding (OR=5.65 CI=1.26-25.38) iron intake <14mg (OR=4.16 CI=2.08-8.31) followed by 14-20mg (OR=2.07 CI=1.06-4.05) and history of worm infestation (OR=4.11 CI=1.70-9.93). However age education socioeconomic status BMI and status of menarche did not contribute significantly. (authors)