Anemia Prevalence and its Determinants among Adolescent Girls in Gujarat, India: A Cross-Sectional Study

Adolescence, a period of rapid growth and high nutritional needs, places adolescents at increased risk of anemia. This study estimates anemia prevalence and its multifactorial determinants among adolescent girls (10-19 years) in Gujarat.

A cross-sectional study, across five various geographies, enrolled 750 adolescent girls via multistage random sampling. Sociodemographic determinants, dietary factors, and biochemical samples were assessed. Bivariate tests and multivariate analyses were conducted.

Overall prevalence of anemia was 39.6%, with 41.8% in early and 35.8% in late adolescence. Half (50%) of anemic participants resided in tribal areas. 81.3% had low serum ferritin, while 67% had low transferrin saturation. 54.5% had latent iron deficiency, that is, low ferritin with normal hemoglobin. 51% of participants reported iron folic acid (IFA) compliance, yet 34.3% of them were anemic. Significant factors found in multivariate models were zinc, vitamin A levels; nut/seed, green leafy vegetable consumption, and elevated glycated hemoglobin HbA1c. Sociodemographic factors in the multivariate model were not significant.

Anemia prevalence among adolescent girls in Gujarat represents a significant public health concern, driven by multiple micronutrient deficiencies, inadequate dietary diversity and inflammatory causes apart from predominantly prevailing iron deficiency.