Low anemia prevalence among adolescents of an urban hilly community

During adolescence more than 20% of the total growth in stature and up to 50% of adult bone mass are achieved. Adolescent girls need additional requirements of iron up to 15% to compensate the physiological blood loss during menstruation. Stunted and undernourished girls are more likely to have complications during pregnancy and give birth to low birth weight babies. In view of the above present study was carried out to find out the magnitude of anemia in adolescents in an urban community of Shimla and to ascertain the factors influencing anemia. (excerpt)