Iron deficiency amongst nursing students

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is widely prevalent in India. IDA is preceded by a stage of latent iron deficiency (ID) where serum ferritin is reduced but hemoglobin is normal.

Present study was undertaken (1) to find prevalence of IDA and ID amongst nursing students; (2) to observe effect of hematinic therapy on Hb and red cell indices.

Nursing students were taken up for study after they gave a written consent.

Subjects were given a written questionnaire to elicit anemia related symptoms. Blood counts were done on electronic counter and serum ferritin was assayed by Elisa. Hematinic capsule was given once at bedtime for a period of three months, after which, participants again answered the same questionnaire and blood count was done.

Students' t test was used to compare the results.

There was no significant difference in Hb, MCV and MCH of normal and ID group. Differences in Hb, MCV and MCH between normal and IDA groups and between IDA and ID groups were highly significant (p < 0.001). Symptom score did not show significant difference in three groups. Ferritin levels of ID and IDA groups were significantly lower than that of normal group (p < 0.001) whereas there was no significant difference in ferritin levels of ID and IDA groups. IDA group showed highly significant improvement in Hb, MCV and MCH as a result of treatment. ID and normal groups did not show increase in Hb level after treatment but increase in MCV and MCH in both groups were highly significant.

IDA and ID were found in 20.3% and 27.5% subjects respectively. Significant rise in MCV and MCH in normal group indicated that even this apparently normal group had iron deficient erythropoiesis.