Prevalence of anemia, stunting and thinning among institutionalized adolescents—a cross-sectional survey

Anemia, a common micronutrient deficiency, is particularly prevalent among adolescents and is often associated with undernutrition. The objective of the present study is to determine the prevalence of undernutrition in terms of BMI for age Z (BAZ) scores and height for age Z (HAZ) scores and anemia among institutionalized adolescents, and to associate anemia with undernutrition. A cross-sectional survey design is used. We enrolled 747 adolescents living in 19 selected childcare institutions in the Chennai and Greater Chennai regions. Anemia status was assessed using the Mission HB Point-of-Care Test (POCT). The weight, height, mid-upper arm circumference (MuAC) and pallor assessment were recorded. Using the WHO Anthro Plus software, HAZ and BAZ scores are generated that determine nutritional status. Anemia, defined as hemoglobin (Hb) levels less than 12.5 g/dl, was prevalent in 85.14% of the sample population. While associating the BAZ and HAZ scores with anemia, among those with Hb levels less than 12.5 g/dl, 16.06% exhibited severe thinness, with a mean Hb level of 10.75 ± 1.39 g/dl, and 48.59% of the population had thinness, with a mean Hb level of 10.52 ± 1.41 g/dl. The study findings highlight the need for targeted interventions focusing on nutrition and anemia prevention for the specific demographics and living conditions of institutionalized adolescents. Comprehensive strategies involving collaboration between healthcare providers, nutritionists, social workers, and policymakers to address the complex array of factors contributing to anemia and undernutrition among adolescents in institutional care settings may be planned to deal with this issue effectively.