Publication:

Prevalence of anemia among female medical students and its correlation with menstrual abnormalities and nutritional habits

Background The prevalence of iron deficiency anemia, which is the commonest cause for anemia, is 52% in Indian women aged 15 to 49 years, as per WHO statistics.  Health consequences of anemia include reduced immunity, increased morbidity and impaired cognitive performance.

Methods The study participants were requested to fill in a pretested self-administered questionnaire. Under aseptic precaution 2 ml of venous blood sample was collected in EDTA vacuum tubes and tested for Hb%, PCV, RBC indices using automated analyzer - Pentra ES 60 and peripheral smear study was done by the pathologist.

Results Anemia was present in 43% of the study population with 37% having mild anemia. Hematocrit was less than normal in 36.2% of the study population with 32.2%showing hypochromia and 21.5% showing microcytosis, thus confirming iron deficiency status. Peripheral smear study revealed microcytic hypochromic blood picture in 26%, normocytic hypochromic in 38% and normocytic normochromic in 32% of the anemic subjects. Menorrhagia was present in 14% of the anemic students whereas 14.1% of the non-anemic subjects had oligomenorrhoea.

Conclusions Frequent screening of the students for the presence of anemia and regular health checkups is a must in all school and university students.