A CROSS SECTIONAL ANALYSIS OF SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS OF ANAEMIA IN ADOLESCENT BOYS

Background: Adolescence a period of transition between childhood and adulthood is a significant period of human growth and maturation. The term “adolescence” has been defined by WHO as those including between 10 to 19 years. During this period, more than 20% of the total growth in stature and 50% of adult bone mass are achieved and iron requirement increases dramatically in both adolescent boys and girls. Available literature from India confirms that anemia is common among adolescent girls but there is a paucity of information on status of anemia among adolescent boys and most of the studies are based on school – going population and are not from the community. Materials and methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted in 440 Adolescent boys aged 10 to 19 years in the Pediatric Unit II and Medicine Unit I of Nishtar Hospital Multan for one-year duration from March 2019 to March 2020. Results: The prevalence of anemia in adolescent boys aged 10 to 19 years were found to be 36.14%. The various sociodemographic determinants which were found to be statistically significant in boys includes type of family, socio- economic status, adolescents’ educational status, H/o of malaria infection, habit of taking meal. Conclusion: Iron supplements have to be provided to the adolescent boys also as in our country, most of the National programmes related to supplementary nutrition are focusing only on adolescent girls, but none of the programmes include adolescent boys. Key words: Adolescent boys, Anemia