Iron deficiency anemia in Dubai Medical College for Girls: a preliminary study

Iron deficiency anemia is still one of the major public health problems all over the world. Particularly in developing countries the complete ecological picture is not well established. All students in the first and second academic years of Dubai Medical College for Girls were included in the present study. The mean Hb was 12.83 +/- 1.49 and that for serum iron was 13.73 micromol/L +/- 4.79. Anemia was detected among 24.62% of the group among which Arab Gulf Nationalities constituted 31.25%. Egyptians showed the highest prevalence of anemia (50%). The study showed a significant effect of chronic blood loss whether menstrual or from any other cause upon the Hb level. Also living in the hostel away from parents and families was reflected upon their diet habits and had a significant reflection upon the prevalence of anemia among the studied group.