The prevalence of anaemia and morbidity profile among school going adolescent girls of urban Kathmandu, Nepal

Abstract

A perusal of the literature on anaemia prevalence in Nepal from 1975 onwards highlighted
two points: anaemia prevalence is high particularly among women and children
and that adolescent girls as a group have not been studied much, in fact, the
adolescent period is one of the critical periods for anaemia. The present study
assessed prevalence of iron deficiency anaemia and morbidity problems of adolescent
girl. The results highlighted anaemia as a public health problem in girls and its prevalence
was found to be higher in Brahmins girls as compared to Newars and Chhetries.
Eighty-two percent of the girls reported health problems such as aches and pains in
the body, infectious morbidities, and weakness and breathlessness. Thus, this female
population groups needs to be paid special attention for health promoting intervention
program.

Key words: Anaemia, morbidity, adolescent girls.