Anemia, a moderate public health problem among adolescent school girls in Aysaita district, the pastoral community of the Afar region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Purpose Adolescents are a vulnerable age group in the human life cycle for the development of anemia. Despite limited health infrastructures, there are limited studies in the pastoral community of the Afar region. Thus, this study aims to assess anemia and associated factors among adolescent school girls in the Aysaita district, the pastoral community of the Afar region, Ethiopia. Design/methodology/approach An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 522 randomly selected adolescent girls in the Aysaita district. A pretested structured questionnaire was used to collect data, and a systematic random sampling technique was used using school registration rosters. Hemoglobin was measured using a complete blood count machine from the vein blood sample. Anthropometric measurements were done to assess the nutritional status of adolescents. Descriptive logistic regression analysis was used to summarize the results and identify the factors associated with anemia. Findings In this study, the prevalence of anemia among adolescent school girls was 109 (21.7%) [95% CI: (18.1%, 25.3%)]. School adolescent girls from rural residence [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 3.42, 95% CI (1.97, 5.94)], who had a minimum dietary diversity score less than 4 [AOR = 3.4, 95% CI (2.1, 5.42)] and menstrual duration 5 and above days [AOR = 2.34, 95% CI (1.36, 4.01)] were associated with increased odds of anemia. Original article This is original manuscript. Not submitted and published elsewhere.