Prevalence of Anemia caused by Iron-Deficiency among Adolescent Girls at BITS, Pilani and its Impact on their well being.

The Centre for Women Studies has undertaken a Study on “Prevalence of Anemia caused by Iron-Deficiency among Adolescent Girls at BITS, Pilani and its Impact on their well being.” Iron deficiency anemia is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in the world. The highest prevalence of iron deficiency is found in infants, children, adolescents and women of child bearing age. Every age group is vulnerable to iron deficiency anemia. In children, anemia is known to cause 5-10 point deficiency in IQ and hamper growth and language development.  In adolescents it leads to fall in academic performance with a dip in memory and concentration levels.

Mission:  To make female students on BITS campus free of anaemia

Specific Objectives:

1. To increase general awareness about mal-effects of anaemia among campus residents.
2. To assess the prevalence of anaemia amongst female students on BITS campus.
3. To take remedial measures to treat anemia.
4. To measure the effect of treatment on Hb% level in different groups.
5. To formulate a normative regime for prevention of anaemia for female students on BITS campus.

Population / Sample:
Female students studying at BITS-Pilani.

Methodology:
Informed consent of participating students will be taken. Case history would be recorded. Control and Experimental Groups would be formed. Investigations for approx. 200 girl students will be done twice during the study period viz. before and after giving treatment (i.e. Counseling and oral iron therapy)

Study Period:
October 2006 to February 2007.

Expected Outcome:
The incidence of anemia amongst female students on campus will be reduced and or abolished over time.  As anemia is associated with a person's capacity to fight infectious diseases, overall general health, overall memory and concentration levels, achieving proper Hb level amongst female students on campus will positively IMPACT their health, and well being.
                  To make female students on campus free of anemia, Center for Women Studies team along with co-operation from Wardens, Meera-Bhawan, Medical professionals organized an Awareness Lecture on Anemia for female students on October 9th, 2006. Gynaecologist Dr. Sanjana Bhat made a presentation on Anaemia highlighting the causes, consequences and measures to overcome anaemia.
The selection of girl students for anemia study was done using a list of all girl students provided by SWD. The I.D numbers served as the sampling frame from which a random sample of 200 was drawn using pseudo-random no. chart. A waiting list of 100 girl students has also been prepared using the same technique. The blood samples would soon be collected after taking the informed consent of the participant.

 Report on Anemia Study :
After selecting the girl students by random selection technique using their I/D No. as a sampling frame, all the selected students were informed individually through an e-mail and notices were placed on all the notice boards—both in the Meera-Bhawan  hostel and on the notice board outside the SWD for the day scholars selected for the study. The day scholars were asked to report to Dr. Sanjana Bhat in the medical centre for filling the proforma and general physical examination on 18th,19th,20th,23rd and24th Oct.2006 between 3pm-5pm. For the convenience of the students residing in Meera-Bhawan, arrangements were made with the help of the wardens, so that the students could fill the proforma in the hostel premises itself. Students from 2001-2004 batches were asked to report in the Meera-Bhawan common room on 27th October 2006, while those from 2005 and 2006 batch were called on 28th October. Details about the study were discussed with the participants and after taking their written informed consent, all of them were asked to fill the proforma in which details about their family history, personal history, any significant past medical/surgical history and details about their dietetic history were taken. Few questions related to diet and adolescent health was also asked to know about the awareness related to these issues in the students participating in the study.
Students from 2001-2003 batch were asked to report at the medical center on 28th Oct.2006 between 3pm-5pm. Their detailed general physical & systemic examination was conducted. This was followed by detection of anaemia which was done by Sahli’s method.
Likewise, the students from 2004, 2005 and 2006 were called to the medical centre on 29th October 2006 where detailed general physical examination & systemic examination followed by haemoglobin estimation was done. Some of the students who could not come for examination and Hb testing on 28th were also examined on 29th October2006.

CWS has undertaken a project on ‘Safe Motherhood and Access to Resources among Nomadic Populations in Desert Regions in Rajasthan, India and the Negev, Israel –A Comparative Perspective’ sponsored by ICSSR, New Delhi. The study period is from March 2008 to March 2009. The aim of the study is to examine the current situation of nomadic communities of Rajasthan with a particular focus on understanding the gender component of their lives. In the present study secondary data will be taken from nomadic Bedouin population of the Negev desert region of Israel.