A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW OF ANEMIA AMONG ADOLESCENTS GIRLS

Abstract

Anemia is currently one of the most common and intractable nutritional problem globally. In developing countries, the adolescent group is more exposed to nutritional challenges and adolescent girls are more vulnerable to the disease. Adolescent girls are particularly prone to iron deficiency anemia because of the increased demands of iron by the body. It is astonishing to know that 30% of world population suffers from iron deficiency anemia, of which 80 to 90% are in developing countries. In India the prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls is 56% and this amounts to an average 64 million girls at any point in time. Specific actions like encouraging consumption of iron rich foods though dietary change, nutritional education, treatment and prevention of parasitic infections, weekly iron supplementation etc. are implemented to prevent iron deficiency anemia and improve the iron status among adolescent girls, yet the impact of anemia among adolescent girls is still a public health problem.