Background: Medical students represent the age group which is vulnerable to anemia.
Objectives: The aims and objectives of this study are to measure the prevalence rate of anemia among the medical students, to find out any relationship between their socioeconomic status and eating habit with prevalence of anemia.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted during 1st February 2017-30th March 2017. A total of 80 students with age ranging from 17 to 25 years were studied. All the students were administered a performa. The severity of anemia was calculated as per guidelines provided by the WHO.
Result: Out of 80 students participated in the study, 37 (46.25%) students were anemic; among these anemic students, 8 (10%) were males and 29 (36.25%) were females. 9 (11.25%), 20 (25%), 6 (07.50%), and 2 (02.50%) students were anemic in underweight, normal, overweight, and obese body mass index (BMI) groups anemic, respectively. 23 (28.75%) students taking vegetarian diet and 14 (17.50%) students taking mix diet were suffering from anemia. These results were statistically significant at P < 0.01.
Conclusion: There is no difference in prevalence of anemia in different groups of BMI and socioeconomic status. Students taking vegetarian diet are more vulnerable to anemia than students taking mix diet.
Key words: Prevalence; Anemia; Medical Students
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