IGNORANCE OF THE LITERATE: TIME TO TARGET HIGHER EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS FOR ANAEMIA CURSE

  Lack of awareness about anaemia among well educated girl students in a university as well as a lack of a demonstrable methodology to combat it. To assess- the prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia and its awareness among female students, the effectiveness of  different treatment modalities on their haemoglobin level and suggest methods to overcome nutritional anaemia. A randomised controlled study of 94 girl students with. Group 1-Control Group (31), Group 2- Vitamin C Group (31) and Group 3 - Iron and Vitamin C Group (32) was undertaken. Albendazole 400mgm, two doses two weeks apart were given to all the respondents. Subgroup 2 respondents were given 100 mgs of Vitamin C/day while subgroup 3 respondents were given 60mgms of elemental iron, 7.5mcg Vit.B12 and 1.5mgm folic acid/day along with 100mgm of Vit.C/day for a period of 90 days. Haemoglobin estimation was done at the start of the study and at the end of 90 days of supplementation. After 90 days of interventions, the proportion of mild anaemia increased from 34.04 %( 32) to 43.61% (41), while that of moderate anaemia decreased from 67.96% (62) to 39.37% (37).Sixteen (17.02%) girls attained normal range of haemoglobin after the interventions .The difference in the prevalence of anaemia before and after the interventions was statistically significant in the experimental subgroups 2 & 3.There is an urgent need to address anaemia curse in educational institutions through a longitudinal testing and provision of supplements. Key Words: Iron Deficiency, Anaemia, Vitamin C, Adolescent Girls, Awareness, Haemoglobin