An Outline of Anemia Among Adolescent Girls in Bangladesh: Findings from a Cross-sectional Study

Background: Anemia is a significant wide spread public health threat especially among the adolescent girls who are more vulnerable towards low level of hemoglobin particularly of low and middle income countries (LMICs). We investigated the prevalence of anemia among the adolescent girls (10-19 years) in Bangladesh and its socio-demographics distribution.

Methods: We collected data digitally in ODK platform from a sub-sample of a nationwide cross-sectional survey of 1314 adolescent girls in 2015. Capillary blood hemoglobin level was estimated using HemoCue®; anthropometric measurements through standardized procedure and details socio-demographic information were captured and analyzed. Malnutrition was defined as BMI-for-age Z-score below -2SD (BAZ < -2SD), measured in WHO-AnthroPlus. Univariate analysis followed by multiple logistic regression were performed to examine the association between socio-demographic variables and anemia, while controlling the effect of potential confounding variables.

Results: Overall, 51.6% girls were suffering from any form of anemia (non-pregnant-Hb < 12 g/dl; pregnant-Hb < 11 g/dl) while 46% were mildly (non-pregnant-Hb: 10-11.9 g/dl; pregnant-Hb: 10-10.9 g/dl) and 5.4% were moderately (Hb: 7-9.9 g/dl) anemic while only 0.2% were severely anemic. After controlling for relevant covariates in multiple logistic regression model, malnutrition (AOR: 1.42, 95% CI = 1.0-2.10, -value = 0.083), non-pregnancy (AOR: 6.10, 95% CI = 2.70-13.78, -value < 0.001), and households with bottom wealth quintile (AOR: 1.54, 95% CI = 1.03-2.30, -value = 0.037) were identified as significant risk factors of anemia among adolescent girls of Bangladesh.

Conclusions: Higher number of adolescent girls are still suffering from anemia in Bangladesh and non-pregnant adolescent girls contributed the most. Immediate, long term and sustainable public health intervention would require to combat the situation.