Abstract

Background: Adolescent girls are at a high risk for anaemia and malnutrition.

Objective: To assess knowledge of adolescent girls regarding anaemia and its preventive measures before and after educational interventional training.

Material and Methods: The present study was an interventional study, undertaken in purposively selected Government Commerce College of Gandhinagar city during July–August 2016 by Department of Community Medicine, GMERS Medical College, Gandhinagar. Total 100 adolescent girls between the age group of 17–19 were included after written informed consent. Baseline knowledge of adolescent girls regarding anaemia and its preventive measures was assessed by pre-designed, pre-tested and semi-structured questionnaire. Single educational interventional training for 45 minutes was given to the selected adolescent girls. Post–intervention knowledge of students for the same was assessed after training. Thus collected data was analyzed using SPSS 17 (trial version).

Result: Baseline knowledge of the adolescent girls regarding causes, signs, and symptoms of anaemia and dietary sources of iron was 21%, 23%, and 40%, respectively which was significantly increased to 64%, 66%, and 72%, respectively after the intervention. Baseline knowledge of the adolescent girls regarding factors which inhibit and increase iron absorption was 25% and 4%, respectively which was significantly increased to 55% and 41%, respectively after the intervention. Baseline knowledge of the adolescent girls regarding treatment of anaemia was 30% which was significantly increased to 79% after the intervention.

Conclusion: There was a significant improvement in the knowledge regarding anaemia and its preventive measures among adolescent girls of college after our single educational session.

Key words: Prevalence, Anaemia, Aadolescent Girls, Iron, Knowledge