The Study to Assess the Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anemia and Associated Risk Factors among Women

Aim: The present study aims to assess the Prevalence of Iron Deficiency Anemia and Associated Risk factors among women at SMCH. Methods and Materials: A descriptive research design was used for the present study. A total 50 samples were collected using quota sampling technique. The demographic variable and level of prevalence of iron deficiency was assessed using structured questioner and, followed by that data was gathered and analyzed. Results : The results the study revealed that there is a significant association with level of prevalence of iron anemia and associate risk factors among women at p<0.05. Conclusion : Thus, the present study assessed the prevalence of iron anemia and associate risk factors among women and it was evident there is a lack of awareness and knowledge.


INTRODUCTION
Anemia is defined as a decreased concentration of blood hemoglobin.It is a condition in which their oxygen-carrying agents capacity is insufficient to meet the body's physiological requirements, where they are affected by multiple factors such has age, sex, altitude, smoking habits, and during pregnancy.[1]Its prevalence is directly proportional to the higher countries growth development among developing nations, because of the poverty and low socioeconomic status and lack of awareness or indigent access to healthcare services.[2]Anemiaaffects an estimated 2.36 billion individuals globally, especially to the vulnerable women and children.[3] The prevalence of anemia is estimated to be higher in India without any fluctuation when compared to all other developing countries and the threshold percentage estimates the diseases frequency.[4] Also, it is the second leading cause of maternal deaths in the country.[5] According to the National Family Health Survey 4 (NFHS-4), 58.4% of children aged 6-59 months, 53.1% of no pregnant women aged 15-49 years, 50.3% of pregnant women aged 15-49 years, 53% of all women aged 15-49 years, 22.7% of men aged 15-49 years, 54% of adolescent girls and 29% of adolescent boys were anemic in India.[6]In the short run, anemia leads to tiredness, heart palpitations and difficulty in breathing.[7] when compared to other type of anemia iron deficiency anemia is common type that ends with secondary complications.Children, women of reproductive age and pregnant women are at high risk of developing anemia.Maternal anemia is associated with maternal and child morbidity and mortality such as increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, prematurity and low birth weight of the baby.[8] About 20% of perinatal mortality and 10% of maternal mortality in developing countries is attributed to iron deficiency.[9] iron-deficiency anemia is the most common type of nutritional anemia which results from long-term negative iron balance and is responsible for approximately 50% of all anemia (10).It is a severe stage of iron shortage in which hemoglobin (or hematocrit) falls below the normal range.It is more widespread and severe in young children and women of reproductive age but it can be found in people of any age-group.Deficiency of iron usually develops slowly and is not clinically evident until anemia becomes severe (11).Accelerated development, hormonal changes, malnutrition, and starting of menstrual periods in girls are the major causes of iron-deficiency anemia during adolescence, which may also lead to impaired perception and learning difficulties (12).In Bangladesh, nutritional anemia has long been identified as a serious publichealth problem (13).The national vitamin A survey conduct in 1997-1998 showed that nearly 50% of pregnant women in rural Bangladesh had anemia (14).Moreover, many surveys conducted in the past stated that anemia is a severe problem among all across age, population and geographic groups in Bangladesh.Helen Keller International in collaboration with the Institute of Public Health Nutrition showed that 68% of under-five children were anemic.The survey also suggested that 40% of adolescent girls and 31% adolescent boys as well as 46% of non-pregnant and 39% of pregnant women were affected by anemia (15).The anemia prevention and control strategies have focused on correcting this deficiency by routine iron supplementation.However, the effectiveness of iron supplementation programs has generally been low (16).

MATERIAL AND METHODS
After obtaining and ethical from the institutional ethical committee of saveetha institute of medical and technical science and formal permission letter obtained from the head of the Saveetha medical college hospital, present study was conducted.For the present study descriptive research design was adopted.The data were collected using a quota sampling technique from 50 samples.
The inclusion criteria for the study, participants, who are available during the study period and who are cooperative and who understand both Tamil and English.exclusion criteria for the study are, samples who not willing to participate in the study.The purpose of the study was explained by the investigator to each of the study participants and a written informed consent was obtained from them.The demographic variable and level of prevalence of iron deficiency was collected from the samples using semi structured questionnaire.The data were analyzed by biostatistics.The sample characteristics were described using frequency and percentage, Chi-square was used to associate the level of prevalence of diabetic with their selected demographic variables The result shows that, 54% were in the age group of 10-15 years, 80% of them were residing at rural area, 58% of them were married, 68% of them were Hindu, 48% were housewife and 56% were not heard about anemia.Table 2 shows that, about 38(76%) of them had grade 1, 5(10%) of them had moderate grade 2 and remaining 7 (14%) of the were of grade 3.

SECTION C: TO FIND OUT THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN THE LEVEL OF PREVALENCE WITH THE SELECTED DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES OF THE WOMEN
The result depicts shows that the demographic variable occupation had shown statistically significant association with level of prevalence at p<0.05 level and the other demographic variables had not shown statistically significant association with level of prevalence

CONCLUSION
The study concluded that, about 38(76%) of them had grade 1 anemic, 5(10%) of them had moderate grade 2 and remaining 7 (14%) of the were of grade 3 anemic.Still need to have the awareness about the prevention of anemia and Nutritional management of anemia education is needed among community settings.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
Authors would like to appreciate participants for their cooperation to complete the study successfully.

Table 2 :
Frequency and percentage distribution of level of prevalence among the women

Table 3 :
Frequency and percentage distribution of level of risk factors of iron deficiency anemia among the womenTable2shows that, 18% were in mild risk, 30% were at moderate risk and 72% were in severe risk.

Table 4 :
Assessment of prevalence score among women ISSN: