This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of anemia among the school going girls in the urban area of Visakhapatnam city in Andhra Pradesh state. A prospective study was carried out among 1208 children of eight different schools from January 2017 to June 2017. The hemoglobin levels were estimated using Sahli’s haemometer by acid hemolysis method to find out baseline prevalence of anemia and its determinants in urban school-going girls of Visakhapatnam. This study was designed to evaluate the prevalence of anemia among the school going girls in the urban area of Visakhapatnam city in Andhra Pradesh state. A prospective study was carried out among1208 children of eight different schools. The hemoglobin levels were estimated using Sahli’s haemometer by acid hemolysis method to find out baseline prevalence of anemia and its determinants in urban school-going girls of Visakhapatnam. Majority (69.8%) of girls were anemic. The overall prevalence of mild, moderate and severe anemia was 48.3%, 19.8%, 1.7% respectively. It was significantly higher in low socio economic classes, (60.8%), whose mother’s education is below high school studies (57.1%) among post menarche girls (70.2%) and with BMI of 18.5 or lower (94.4%). The prevalence of anemia was significantly lower in girls consuming non vegetarian food.

Out of 69.8 of anemic girls 49.0% are menstruating and all forms of anemia are more in menstruating girls when compared to non-menstruating girls. Mild anemia 32.2%vs16.02%, Moderate anemia 15.1% vs 4.7% and severe anemia 1.7% vs 0.08%.          

Keywords: Anemia, school going girls, Prevalence, status of menarche.

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Dr P.Vijaya Sheela MD

Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam,

Andhra Pradesh

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