Author(s): Niharika Paliwal

Abstract:
The present study has been undertaken to assess the "Prevalence of Iron deficiency anemia among adolescent girls and impact of health and nutrition education programme in changing their dietary behaviour". For this purpose a sample of 30 each adolescent girls of 14-19 yrs. were selected. A pre-tested interview schedule was developed to collect information regarding nutritional status by dietary survey (24.hrs. recall method), anthropometric measurements (height, weight and BMI). Clinical and hemoglobin estimation to assess the nutritional status of the adolescent. Dietary survey revealed that the diet of the adolescent girls in comparison to the balanced diet was substantially inadequate. Cereals and pluses were food consumed by all the people. Consumption of other food groups was by few subjects. Intake of the entire food group as percentage of balanced diet was low. Inadequacy was observed in case of all nutrients, except vitamin-B (Thiamin & riboflavin) and vitamin A in adolescent girls. while low level of other nutrients like vitamin C, iron, folic acid and calcium was assesses in adolescent people as compared to RDA (Pasricha & Thiammyamma, 1992).By the assessment of prevalence of clinical signs/symptoms and hemoglobin estimation showed that the mean hemoglobin level of adolescent girls showed that 30% percent adolescent girls were falling in moderate category of anemia 50% percent people were severely anemia and very few (20%) subjects were falling in mild category of anemia. From the above results it can be concluded that overall nutritional status of adolescent people was not satisfactory and they were having higher prevalence of iron deficiency anemia.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22271/23957476.2025.v11.i1c.1774