Anemia, a moderate public health problem among adolescent school girls in Aysaita district, the pastoral community of the Afar region, Ethiopia
ISSN: 0034-6659
Article publication date: 24 March 2022
Issue publication date: 15 November 2022
Abstract
Purpose
Adolescents are a vulnerable age group in the human life cycle for the development of anemia. Despite limited health infrastructures, there are limited studies in the pastoral community of the Afar region. Thus, this study aims to assess anemia and associated factors among adolescent school girls in the Aysaita district, the pastoral community of the Afar region, Ethiopia.
Design/methodology/approach
An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 522 randomly selected adolescent girls in the Aysaita district. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data, and a systematic random sampling technique was used using school registration rosters. Hemoglobin was measured using a complete blood count machine from the vein blood sample. Anthropometric measurements were done to assess the nutritional status of adolescents. Descriptive logistic regression analysis was used to summarize the results and identify the factors associated with anemia.
Findings
In this study, the prevalence of anemia among adolescent school girls was 109 (21.7%) [95% CI: (18.1%, 25.3%)]. School adolescent girls from rural residence [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.42, 95% CI (1.97, 5.94)], who had a minimum dietary diversity score less than 4 [AOR = 3.4, 95% CI (2.1, 5.42)] and menstrual duration 5 and above days [AOR = 2.34, 95% CI (1.36, 4.01)] were associated with increased odds of anemia.
Original article
This is original manuscript. Not submitted and published elsewhere.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
We would thank all respondents for giving us valuable information and blood samples. We also extend our gratitude to the Afar Regional Education Bureau and the Aysaita District Education Office for providing us with a supporting letter. We would also thank data collectors and supervisors.
Ethical and consent: “All subjects gave their informed consent and assent for inclusion before they participated in the study. The study was conducted according to the guidelines of the Declaration of Helsinki (www.wma.net/what-we-do/medical-ethics/declaration-of-helsinki/) and approved by Samara University Research and Ethical Review Committee (RERC) on June 18, 2019, with RE ERC 0051/2019. Written informed consent and assent were obtained from adolescent girls and their parents.
Citation
Anbesu, E., Mulaw, G., Mare, K. and Kahssay, M. (2022), "Anemia, a moderate public health problem among adolescent school girls in Aysaita district, the pastoral community of the Afar region, Ethiopia", Nutrition & Food Science, Vol. 52 No. 8, pp. 1289-1301. https://doi.org/10.1108/NFS-12-2021-0392
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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