Publication:

Study to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice regarding prevention of anemia among adolescent girls in a view to develop an information booklet

Background Anemia especially more common in the developing countries for having numerous socio-cultural problems, lack of knowledge, poor attitude and practice to prevent from the beginning. National Family Health Survey, 2019-21 reported that 59.1% of adolescent girls (15-19 years old) are anemic and this count is higher in rural areas (~58.5%) compared to urban areas (~53.8%). To check the early onset of anemia in women, it needs to be addressed properly during adolescent being regarded as the transitional stage of transformation.

Methods This study was conducted with 170 adolescent girls among the age group of 14 to 19 comprising of five classes from IX to under graduate 1st year. The inferential statistics, χ2 at α=0.05 and p<0.05 was tested with demographic variables for knowledge assessment. Attitude was rated with Bloom’s cut off scale along with practice assessment. A spearman correlation was given for overall assessment of the knowledge, attitude and practice.

Results The inferential statistics, χ2 at α=0.05 and p<0.05 shows the significant association of knowledge with the demographic variables like age, class and family size. Spearman correlation (ρ) justifies the moderate correlation between knowledge, attitude and practice score of the sample. Surface plot justifies the improvement of attitude and practice due to knowledge at par class and age.

Conclusions Mean knowledge score at poor level might be a factor for developing average attitude which in turn directly influenced the practice not to a good level for adolescent girls needs to be addressed further through developing the self-structured teaching programme and information booklet.