Abstract:
Background: Anemia defined as a low blood hemoglobin concentration, has been shown to
be a public health importance. Adolescence age group is the most neglected in public health
and nutrition research as priorities are usually given to pregnant women, lactating mothers
and their children less than 2 years. Current Ethiopian Food and Nutrition policy included
adolescent girls in most at risk group for nutritional demands; however, only few studies
have assessed deficiency of anemia and associated factors to tackle intergenerational cycle of
malnutrition.
Objectives: To assess prevalence of anemia and associated factors among high school
adolescent girls in Jimma town.
Methods: School based cross sectional study design was conducted among randomly selected
551 high school adolescent girls in Jimma town from December 10, 2018 to February 1,
2019, south west Ethiopia. Structured and pretested questionnaires were used to collect the
data. Multi stage sampling was used to select the study participants. Data were entered into
Epi-Data version 3.1 and exported to SPSS version 20 for further analysis. On Bivariate
analysis p≤0.25 was considered as candidate for multivariable logistic regression. Multi
variable logistic regression was done to control for confounders and to identify factors
independently associated with anemia. Level of statistical significance was declared at P <
0.05
Results: A total of 528 adolescent girls were included in the study yielding a response rate of
95.8%. The prevalence of anemia was found to be 26.7%, 95% CI (22.7, 30.5). In multivariable logistic regression analysis live separate from their family AOR=4.430 95%CI
(2.204,8.904), dietary diversity score AOR=3.56895%CI(1.884,6.755) menstrual bleeding
more than 5 days AOR=2.25, 95%CI (1.173,4.334) and low economic status AOR =2.162
95% CI (1.173,4.334) were positively associated factor with anemia and only having at least
a secondary school in mother’s educational status AOR =0.428 95%CI (0.188,0.975) was
negatively associated with anemia in the study area.
Conclusion: Prevalence of anemia among school adolescents was moderate public health
problem according to world health organization prevalence estimation of anemia. Mother
educational status, living condition of the adolescent girls, dietary diversity score, duration
of menses and low economic status were independent predictors of anemia. Therefore, iron
rich and diversified food consumptions should be given attention.
