Changing trends of anaemia prevalence among female medical students in a metropolitan setting: Assessment through self-grading and haematological parameters

Objective: To determine the trend of anaemia prevalence among female medical students (FMS) through self-grading along haematological parameters and its association with their nutritional indicators.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a public sector health university of Karachi among FMS from April to September 2016. After written informed consent, 216 FMS were assessed for height and weight, for nutrition habits by calculating minimum dietary diversity for women (MDD-W) and anaemia status by self-administered validated self-grading anaemia assessment questionnaire (SGAAQ). The haematological parameters were examined in venous blood sample on Sysmex (XN-3000). The data was analysed using IBM SPSS software version 24. Association between anaemia and nutritional indicators was determined by Chi-square and considered significant when p < 0.05.

Results: Anaemia prevalence was 31% with highest frequency among obese (56%) and 29% FMS achieved MDD-W. The mean SGAAQ score, Hb (g/dl), MCV (fl), MCH (pg) and Ret-He (pg) differed significantly (p = <0.001) between anaemic and non-anaemic students. The mean Hb (g/dl) level was significantly higher for FMS who scored MDD-W >5 (p= 0.04).

Conclusion: Malnutrition and anaemia co-exist despite appropriate awareness of anaemia among FMS. It was associated with self-assessment of anaemia and BMI groups but not with dietary diversity in the present study.