Combatting anemia in adolescent girls: a report from India.
Mothers Child
; 13(1): 1-3, 1994.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-12287929
PIP: In a study on anemia in adolescent girls living in slum areas, 105 girls, aged 10 to 18, participated in qualitative (focus group discussions; open ended, in depth interviews) and quantitative (structured survey and hemoglobin estimation) research activities before and after intervention. Perceptions of mothers were also surveyed. The qualitative methods were used on selected subsamples in order to represent all age and ethnic groups and geographic areas of the slum. Quantitative methods were used on all 105 girls. The prevalence of anemia was 98%. The patterns of responses were similar for the focus groups, interviews, and surveys. Mothers and their daughters believed the girls were healthy (" one who ate well, worked without tiring easily and did not fall sick often"). There was no major connection made between menstruation and health, or between present and future health. Most of the girls were unaware of the Gujarati term for anemia, pandurog, which is used in awareness campaigns. The girls described symptoms (weakness = kamshakti) associated with anemia and knew these could be remedied with green leafy vegetables, fruit, milk, meat, tonics from the doctor, and iron tablets (shakti ni goli). Based on these results, a puppet show, using local terms and events, was developed that covered the causes, symptoms, treatment, and prevention of anemia. The term, pandurog, was introduced and reinforced. The girls were encouraged to have their blood tested and to take iron tablets. The hemoglobin levels of the girls were taken after the show and after an iron supplement program lasting three months. Compliance with the supplementation program was monitored biweekly. Group discussions with flash cards reinforced the information in the puppet show. Results from the last hemoglobin level showed a significant increase; however, the prevalence of anemia was 87%. About half of the girls consumed at least 60% of the tablets; one-fifth consumed 80%. Forgetfulness and fasting during Ramzaan were cited as reasons for noncompliance. There was a significant increase in awareness of the term, pandurog; the symptoms of anemia; the importance of diet in preventing pandurog; and the role of menstruation in increasing iron needs and contributing to pandurog.^ieng
Palabras clave
Adolescents; Adolescents, Female; Age Factors; Anemia; Asia; Biology; Communication; Delivery Of Health Care; Demographic Factors; Developing Countries; Diseases; Economic Factors; Education; Focus Groups; Folk Media; Food Supplementation; Geographic Factors; Health; Health Education; Health Services; Hemic System; Hemoglobin Level; India; Ingredients And Chemicals; Inorganic Chemicals; Interviews; Iron; Low Income Population; Mass Media; Metals; Nutrition Programs; Physiology; Population; Population Characteristics; Primary Health Care; Reproductive Health; Sampling Studies; Slums; Social Class; Socioeconomic Factors; Socioeconomic Status; Southern Asia; Spatial Distribution; Studies; Surveys; Urban Population; Urban Spatial Distribution; Urbanization; Youth
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Pobreza
/
Población Urbana
/
Hemoglobinas
/
Áreas de Pobreza
/
Educación en Salud
/
Recolección de Datos
/
Entrevistas como Asunto
/
Adolescente
/
Grupos Focales
/
Medicina Reproductiva
Tipo de estudio:
Health_economic_evaluation
/
Qualitative_research
/
Risk_factors_studies
Aspecto:
Determinantes_sociais_saude
/
Equity_inequality
País/Región como asunto:
Asia
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Mothers Child
Año:
1994
Tipo del documento:
Article
Pais de publicación:
Estados Unidos