Prevalence Of Anaemia Among School Children In Rural And Urban Areas Of Belgaum –A Comparative Study

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Anaemia is a global health problem with a need of serious public health concern. Prevalence of anaemia in developing countries is 77%, which is three to four times higher than developed countries. An estimated 30% of world’s population is anaemic, with global prevalence of anaemia among school children being 36%. Anaemia is a serious concern during this development phase, i.e. the schooling phase as it can adversely affect cognitive performance, behavior and motor development, and scholastic performance. So, there is need for more studies related to anaemia in school children. So the present, comparative study was undertaken to know the prevalence of anaemia and risk factors associated with anaemia in urban and rural school children of Belgaum. METHODOLOGY All Government aided schools coming under area of Vantamuri PHC and Ramnagar UHC were selected for the study, from January 2014 to December 2014. Students of class 8th, 9th and 10th standard were our study sample, total 800 students participated in our study (400 from each area). Size proportionate to sampling was done to select the sample. Permission was obtained from respective Heads of the schools before initiation of the studies. Written consent from the Heads of the school was taken. Student’s assent was obtained. A predesigned and pretested questionnaire was used to collect data regarding socio-demographic profile, dietary intake and Environmental history. Haemoglobin estimation was done in all students of the study by using Sahli’s Acid Hematin method. Detailed clinical examination was done and Anthropometry was measured. RESULTS The prevalence of anaemia was more in rural school children than that of urban area (52.75% vs 43%).This difference was found to be statistically significant, p<0.001. Prevalence of Anaemia in urban high school girls was found to be 50% and in rural girls it was 63.7%. Prevalence of Anaemia in urban high school boys was found to be 37.5% and in rural boys it was 43.58 %. Prevalence of anaemia was more among rural girls (81.2%) who have attained menarche compared to the urban (66.7%) counterpart. In urban area 63.4% prevalence of anaemia was seen in thin (undernourished) children i.e. BMI <5th percentile, similarly in rural area 68.6% prevalence was seen in thin children. Illiteracy of the mother, low SES, open air defecation, vegetarian diet, decreased consumption of green leafy vegetables and fruits were significantly associated with prevalence of anaemia with p<0.001. CONCLUSION AND INTERPRETATION The present community based study, reported a higher prevalence of anaemia among rural high school children compared to the urban counterpart. Prevalence of anaemia was more among girls in both urban and rural areas. The urban and rural areas in our study fall in to communities of severe public health significance (prevalence >40%).