SURVEY STATUS AND NUTRITIONAL BEHAVIOR TO PREVENTION OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA AMONG HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS IN BABOL CITY

Iron deficiency anemia is the most common nutritional problem in the world,
and more than 30% of the world population are suffering from anemia. Teenager girls are one of the
vulnerable groups. This problem shows the inadequate intake of dietary iron, general malnutrition or
low iron intake in the diet. This study aims to examine the nutritional status of iron deficiency anemia
in high school female students.
Materials & Methods: In this cross- sectional study, 100 female students from high schools were
selected by multi-stage random selection in 2013. Tools for data collection were questionnaires, and
blood tests that were taken by their written consent from their parents. 2 ml blood sample was taken
for blood measurement, and serum ferritin. The collected data were analyzed using statistical software
SPSS18.
Result: The mean of Hemoglobin was 12/35 ± 1/03, HCT 36/90 ± 2/84, and ferritin 28/6 ± 18/22.
Prevalence of anemia was 33%, iron deficiency anemia was 15% and iron deficiency was 28%. Sixty
percent of students had medium knowledge and 27% of the participants had good practice, and their
attitudes toward nutritional behavior was moderate.
Conclusion: According to the WHO classification, and according to the findings of this study, this
public health problem is assessed as moderate. Appropriate measures such as training sessions to
increase knowledge, changing the people’s attitude, is necessary to prevent iron deficiency anemia.