An Epidemiological Profile of Anaemia in Working Women

 

Hina Kausar1*, H.B Rathi2 and Mohammed Ubaid Ur Rahaman3

1Assistant Professor, Community Medicine, Dr. Ulhas Patil Medical College, Jalgaon Kh.(MS)

2Associate Professor, Community Medicine, Dr. Ulhas Patil Medical College, Jalgaon Kh.(MS)

3Divisional Medical Officer, Central Railway hospital, Bhusawal (MS)

 

 

ABSTRACT:

Back ground: Anaemia is one of the most frequently observed nutritional deficiency disease in the world today. 

Objective: to know the epidemiological profile of anaemia in working women.

Study variables: grades of anaemia, type of work and socio economic status of the working women

Statistical analysis: Proportion, Chi square test.

Observations and discussion: High prevalence of anaemia was observed in women working in administrative section 23 (82.10%) followed by sweepers 75 (73.5%) and nurses 96 (68.5%). The difference was found to be statistically significant (x2=30.9, d.f =3, p=0.00000089).  It was observed that anaemia was more prevalent in lower class (83.63%) as compared to upper class (53.33%).The difference was found to be statistically significant( x2 = 21.1, d.f.=2,p=0.0000262).

Recommendations: To conduct prophylactic programs for the prevention of anaemia and nutritional education in the community as a whole and working women to bring out behaviour change.

 

KEYWORDS: Mild, Moderate and Severe anaemia.

 

 

INTRODUCTION:

Anaemia is one of the most frequently observed nutritional deficiency disease in the world today. In 1992, WHO global estimates of anaemia, prevalence averaged 56% with a range of 35 -75% depending upon the geographic location. (1) According to NFHS III 2005 -06 (2) more than half (55%) of the women in India are anaemic and anaemia among women has increased slightly in the past seven years. 38% have mild anaemia, 15% of these are classified as moderately anaemic and 2% as severely anaemic. 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(3) and Garg Narenra K.and Sharma A.B(4), the authors have under taken this study with the objective to know the epidemiological profile anaemia in working women.

 

MATERIALS AND METHOD:

The present retrospective study is an institutional based study. This study was conducted in Chalmeda anand rao institute of medical sciences, Karimnagar (A.P.) from june 2010 to may 2011 for a total period of one year. The data was collected in pre drawn and pretested proforma.

 

 

A list of all working women (Those who were in paid employment) in Chalmeda anand rao institute of medical sciences was obtained from administrative department. There were 318 working women out of which 18 women did not cooperated/responded in the study, hence they were excluded from the study. Thus total sample size was 300.

 

Anaemia was defined as Hb <12 gm%. (4)

 Hb 10 to <12 gm % was taken as mild anaemia,

Hb 7 to <10gm % as moderate                                                                                       

And Hb < 7gm as severe. (5)

 

As per definition there were only two hundred one working women found suffering from anaemia, hence effective sample size was 201.

 

OBSERVATIONS AND DISCUSSION:

On analysis of the collected data and after applying statistical tests,  it was found that, out of three hundred working women,  201 (67%) had anaemia, 126 (62.7%) had mild anemia (Hb 10 to <12 gm %) , 67 (33.3%) had moderate anaemia (Hb 7 to <10gm %) and 8 women (3.9%) had severe anemia (Hb < 7gm %) (Table-I).

 

TABLE-I: DISTRIBUTION OF STUDY SUBJECTS AS PER GRADES OF ANAEMIA

Grades of anemia (Hb)

Number

Percentage

Mild

(10- <12 gm %)

126

62.7

Moderate

 (7- <10gm %)

67

33.3

Severe

(< 7gm %)

08

3.9

Total

201

100

 

Most of the women (62.7%) had mild anemia that affects the health of the women and decreases working capacity, which can be reduced by slight modification in the dietary habit of women in this study. Bentley ME, Griffiths PL (1) from Andhra Pradesh reported 49.5% overall prevalence of anaemia, 32.4% had mild anemia, 14.9% had moderate anaemia and 2.2% had severe anemia among studied women. Switoniak et al (6) found low prevalence of anemia 12.5% among professional working women. Chandyo et al (7) carried out a study on anemia in healthy women of reproductive age group in Bhaktapur, Nepal. They found the prevalence of anemia was 12%, where as combination of anemia and depleted iron store was found in 6% of women.

 

TABLE-II: ASSOCIATION OF TYPE OF WORK AND ANAEMIA

Type of work

Anaemia

Total

Yes

No

Doctor

 07 (23.33%)

 23 (76.66%)

30 (10%)

Nurse

 96 (68.50%)

 44 (31.50%)

140(46.66%)

Administrative staff

 23 (82.10%)

 05 (17.90%)

28 (9.33%)

Sweeper

75 (73.50%)

27 (26.50%)

102 (34%)

Total

201

99

300

(X2= 30.9, d.f = 3, p=0.00000089)

(Table-II) shows high prevalence of anaemia amongst women who were working in administrative section 23(82.10%) followed by sweepers 75(73.5%), and nurses 96(68.5%). The difference was found to be statistically significant (x2=30.9, d.f =3, p=0.00000089)

                                                        

TABLE-III: ASSOCIATION  BETWEEN  S.E. STATUS  AND  ANAEMIA

S.E. Status

Anaemia

Total

Yes

No

Upper

16(53.33 %)

14 (46.66%)

30 (10%)

Middle

93 (58.12%)

67 (41.87%)

160 (53.33%)

Lower

92 (83.63%)

18(16.37%)

110 (36.66%)

Total

201

99

300

 (X2= 21.1, d.f = 2, p=0.0000262)

 

As per socio economic status,(Table-III)  it was revealed that anaemia prevalence was more in the lower class (83.63%) as compared to (53.33%) upper class.Thus as socioeconomic status decreases prevalence of anemia increases .The difference was found to be statistically significant(X2= 21.1, d.f = 2, p=0.0000262). This was an expected finding as dietary intake of women in lower class is not adequate leading to nutritional deficiency anemia. Bentley ME, Griffith PL (1) observed statistically significant difference in the prevalence of anemia between groups based upon the socioeconomic status; anemia was more in lower socioeconomic groups.

 

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS:

There was statistical significant association between type of work and socio economic status of working women. There is an urgent need of prophylactic programmes for the prevention of anaemia among these women similarly nutritional education in the community as a whole and the working women as specific to bring out behaviour change education, have to be routinely and periodically organised as education is not  one time process but  a continuous process to achieve permanent results. 

 

REFERENCES:

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

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

(3)     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.

(4)     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

(5)     Number and percent literates by level of education: India2001.Available from http://www.Censusindia.gov.in. Last accessed on 3/11/10.

(6)     Switoniak T, Krol A. Iron Deficiency and Anemia in Professional Working Women. Praze ql Epidemiol 1992;46(4):379-87.

(7)     Chandyo RK, Strand TA ,Ulveik RJ, Adhikari RK, Ulak M, Dixit H, Sommerfeet H. Prevalence of iron deficiency &anemia among women of reproductive age in Bhaktapur, Nepal. European journal of clinical Nutrition2006:1-8.

 

Received on 07.03.2013

Modified on 07.04.2013

Accepted on 11.05.2013

© A&V Publication all right reserved

Research J. Pharmacology and Pharmacodynamics. 5(3): May–June 2013, 191-192