Prevalence of Anemia in Teenage Mothers

Dr Bhagwan Gamaji Ambhore¹*, Dr Kavita Ambhore², Dilip N. Dhekale³

¹Assistant Professor, Dept. of Community Medicine, Dr. Ulhas Patil Medical College, Jalgaon Khurd (M.S.)

²Epidemiologist, HFWTC, Aurangabad (M.S.)

³Associate Professor, Community Medicine, Dr. Ulhas Patil Medical College and Hospital, Jalgaon Kh.,(M.S.), India

ABSTRACT:

Background: Anemia is one of the most prevalent nutritional deficiency diseases in India and despite of all preventable measures there is slight increase in the prevalence of the same.

Objective: to assess the prevalence of anemia in teenage mothers.

Statistical analysis: Expressed in simple terms of Proportion.

Observations and discussion:More than fifty percent mothers were found suffering from ten or less than ten gm. Of hemoglobin.

Recommendations: There is an urgent need of nutrition education with emphasis in adequate dietary intake and regular iron supplementation is recommended for correction of anemia.

KEYWORDS: Nutrition education, Iron intake

INTRODUCTION:

During pregnancy growth of fetus, uterus and other changes taking place in expectant mothers lead to an increase in demand for many nutrients especially iron and folic acid. Since most of the teen agers have inadequate body store because of poor nutrition during childhood and early teenage and in pregnancy, their extra requirement is even higher than usual. If it is not corrected with supplements as iron, folic acid and proper dietary intake there will be further fall in hemoglobin and consequences of anemia may appear. Nutritional anemia is estimated to effect nearly two third of pregnant women in developing countries. Survey in different parts of India indicate that about 50 to 60 percent of expectant mothers belonging to low socio economic group are anemic in last trimester of pregnancy (1).

By keeping in mind the above facts and as per recommendations of the World Health Organization (W.H.O.) study group in 1957,that in order to get a comprehensive picture of a disease , more and more such studies have to be carried out, Garg Narenra K.(2) and Garg Narenra K.and Sharma A.B.(3), the authors have under taken this study with the objective to know the prevalence of anemia amongst teen age mothers

MATERIALS AND METHOD:

This was an institution based, cross sectional study conducted conducted from 1^st August to 31^st July 2002. Two hundred nine teen age mothers delivered in Shri Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj General Hospital, Solapur (M.S.) were taken as sample. The mothers aged 10 to 19 years were considered teenage as per WHO criteria (4and 5). Anemia is the term used to describe the condition in which there is reduction of concentration of Hemoglobin in blood stream to the level (for pregnant women) below 10mg/100ml.(6).

OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSION:

On analysis of the collected data it was found that out of 209 sampled teen age mothers, 20 (9.56%) were having less than 8 mg. percent Hb. (Table-I) while 89 (42.58%) mothers having Hb. Percentage between 8 to 10 and the remaining 100 mothers having Hb. Percentage more than 10 mg.percentage. Thus, authors noted that more than 50 % mothers were suffering from anemia.

The prevalence of anemia in the present was little more than the findings of various studies by Philip F.S. et al (7) 15 %, Nayak A.H. (8) 12.98%, Patted S.et al (9) 16.91 % while the findings of the present study were comparable to Kachhawa V. et al (10) 47.6%, Sarkar C.S. et al (11) 76.6%, and Rani Reddy P. et al (12) 80%.

Anemia is one of the most frequently observed nutritional deficiency diseases in the world today. In 1992, World Health Organization (W.H.O.) global estimates of anemia prevalence averaged 56% with a range of 35 -75% depending upon the geographic location (13).

According to National Family Health Survey (NFHS) – III, 2005 -06 (14) more than half (55%) of the women in India are anemic and anemia among women has increased slightly in the past seven years. 38% have mild anemia, 15% of these are classified as moderately anemic and 2% as severely anemic

TABLE-I-DISTRIBUTION OF STUDY SUBJECTS AS PER Hb. PERCENTAGE

Sr. number	Hb. percentage	Number
1	< 8	20 (09.56)
2	8 to 10	89 (42.58)
3	> 10	100 (47.86)
Total

Figures in parenthesis denotes percentage

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

Anemia present in teen mothers was mainly nutritional. As most of the teen-age mothers have inadequate body stores, they become anemic during pregnancy. Adequate dietary intake and regular iron supplementation is required for correction of anemia. Hence, there is an urgent need of nutrition education for the community specially women. A flow chart has been developed which will be helpful in active and passive detection of cases as well as bringing awareness about the disease anemia, imparting nutrition education etc.

REFERENCES:

(1) Park K. Text book of preventive and social medicine 16^th edition, 2000;

(2) Garg Narendra K.: Evaluation of the impact of emesis and emesis plus purgation Therapy; Research J Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics:2 (2) March-April;2010:201-202.

(3) Garg Narendra K and Sharma A.B. : Epidemiological profile of patients attending a tertiary care hospital, Muktsar, Punjab (India); Research J Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics:3 (6) November-December;2011:311-317

(4) WHO, Bennial Report, 1996-97

(5) Atwood S. and J.J.Hussein; Adolescent Motherhood: Priorities and next steps;J.of Fam. Welfare:43(2):8,1997

(6) WHO (1959) Technical Report Series No. 182

(7) Philips F.S , Shivkamsundari S.; Teen age pregnancy, J.of Obst. Gynaec. Ind.,29(4):578:1978

(8) Nayak A.H., Puranik K.G., Dalal A.R. Obstretic outcome in teenage pregnancy;J.of Obst. Gynaec. Ind.,42:442:1992

(9) Patted S.,Rao K., Ramkumaram V., Adolescent pregnancy; J.of Obst. Gynaec. Ind.,47(1):236:1997

(10) Kachhwa V., Ojha J., Gelhot D. Significance of age in primipara; J.of Obst. Gynaec. Ind.,29 :1191:1979

(11) Sarkar C.S., Giri A.K., Sarkar B.J. Outcome of teenage pregnancy : a retrospective study; JIMA, 89 (7) : 197, 1991

(12) P. Reddi Rani, Rani U., Raghwan S., Rajaram P. Adolescent pregnancy; J. Obstet. Gynaec. Ind., 42 :764,1958

(13) Bentley ME, Griffiths PL. The burden of Anemia among Women in India. European Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2003, 57; 52-60.

(14) Fact sheet: National Family health Survey NFHS-III 2005-06, Ministry of Health and family welfare, Govt. of India

Received on 07.03.2013

Modified on 10.04.2013

Accepted on 15.04.2013

Research J. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics. 5(2): March–April 2013, 123-125