Anemia and its associated factor among adolescent school girls in GODEY and DEGEHABUR council Somali region, eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract A cross-sectional study was conducted in a higher secondary school in Godey and Degehabur council to estimate the prevalence of anaemia among school-going adolescent girls and to identify the associated factors. Haemoglobin levels were assessed directly in the school. Data related to socio-demographic, socio-economic characteristics, dietary habits, past health status and anaemia related knowledge among adolescents’ girls were collected by interview method and analyzed with the help of SPSS version 25. The prevalence of anaemia was found to be 31.5% among adolescent girls. Family size ≥5 people and lack of anaemia knowledge were independent predictors of anaemia. Therefore, the present study emphasizes the need for development of health and nutrition education strategies to improve dietary habits, family planning, and intermittent iron-folic acid supplementation with intensifying adolescent anemia prophylaxis programs.

Keywords

• Adolescent girls
• Anemia
• Dietary diversity
• Menstruation