Prevalence and Risk Factors of Anaemia among Adolescent Girls in Selected Schools

To assess the prevalence and risk factors which contribute to anemia among adolescent girls in selected Introduction: ‘Anemia is a disease in which, because of one or more vital nutrient deficiencies, the blood hemoglobin content is lower than average, irrespective of the cause of such deficiency. In Maharashtra, according to District Level Household Survey (DLHS) 2002-2006, the prevalence of moderate anemia in adolescent girls was estimated to be 53%, whereas severe anemia was 29%. Aims: To assess the Prevalence and risk factors which contribute to anemia among adolescent girls in selected Schools. Research Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried in 150 adolescent girls age between 10 to 15 years. Quantitative research approach was used. Non-probability convenience sample technique was used. Results: The data obtained to describe the sample characteristics including demographic variables (age of adolescent girls, education, mother education, type of family, monthly family income and type of diet), prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls, menstrual factors and dietary factors. The levels of anemia were seen into 4 categories, normal Hb% level, mild anemia, moderate anemia and severe anemia. In demographic variables, Type of family of adolescent girls (p=0.04) is statistically associated with prevalence of anemia. In menstrual factors, duration of blood flow is found to be statistically associated with menstrual factors of adolescent girls (p=0.0001). In dietary factors, it is interpreted dietary factors of adolescent girls is statistically not associated with their prevalence of anemia. Conclusion: The prevalence of anemia is more in adolescent girls. A statistically significant was found between nuclear family but not with the other socio-demographic factors. No association was found between status of menstrual factors except duration of blood flow.

Menstrual Factors and Stroke Incidence in Japanese Postmenopausal Women: The Ohasama Study

Background: The association between stroke and menstrual factors, for example, age at the time of menarche and age at the time of menopause, has not been well studied so far and the findings are inconsistent. We sought to examine this association in Japanese postmenopausal women. Methods: We followed 1,412 postmenopausal women aged ≥35 without a history of stroke in Ohasama, Japan. Baseline data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs of each menstrual factor for stroke incidence were calculated using the Cox proportional hazard model. Results: During a median follow-up of 12.8 years, 143 participants developed a stroke for the first time. Women aged ≤13 at the time of menarche had a significantly higher probability of encountering a stroke incidence in their lives compared with women aged 15 at the time of menarche (HR 1.83; 95% CI 1.04-3.22). The same was also true for cerebral infarction (HR 2.34; 95% CI 1.18-4.66). While early menopause was not significantly associated with stroke incidence, women aged ≤45 at the time of menopause faced a higher risk for cerebral infarction compared with women aged 50 years at the time of menopause (HR 3.25; 95% CI 1.54-6.86). Conclusions: Early menarche and its associated features might be a useful tool for future intervention strategies targeting modifiable factors that trigger menstrual onset.