Prevalence of anemia among school going adolescent girls in rural area of Pune, Maharashtra, India

Background: Anemia is like the tip of an iceberg, as majority of anemic subjects are asymptomatic. Low iron diet for longer period perpetuates an inter-generational cycle of anemia, anemic women giving birth to anemic children. This situation is more acute in rural area due to their dietary habits, illiterate parents, socio-economic status, misconception about food, religions belief, menstruation and physical activity.Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in rural field practice area of Rural Heath Training Centre (RHTC) under department of community medicine, Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical college Pune, Maharashtra, India. There are 11 villages under RHTC Lavale: Out of them one village viz. Pirangut village was randomly selected. (by using random sampling method). This study was conducted in 2013. Total 740 senior secondary school girls studying in class 6th to 12th (10-19 age group) were included. Hb level was measured by Sahli′s hemoglobinometer. Chi square was used to test for association between qualitative variables, and p-value less than 0.05 was considered significant.Results: The Hb level of girls reveal that majority 648 (87.6%) of them were anemic. It was found that 305 (47.06%) and 340 (52.48%) were suffering from mild and moderate anemia while 3 (0.46%) had severe anemia. The significant association was found with BMI for age.Conclusions: Active measures to decrease the prevalence of anemia through educating these girls and their mothers, school diet supplementation, providing low cost diet.

Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome, a uncommon but fatal illness, paediatricians should be aware of: a case of 13 year old female child

Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome is a fatal illness manifested by fever, morbilliform rash, multi systemic involvement and eosinophilic leucocytosis with about 10% mortality. Authors report DRESS syndrome in an adolescent girl due to anti-depressant and anti-psychotic which improved dramatically after withdrawal of offending drugs and starting of steroids

A study of menstrual hygiene among rural adolescent school girls in rural field practice area of a medical college, Davangere- a cross sectional study

Background: Adolescence in girls signifies the transition from girlhood to womanhood; one fifth of world population is between 10 and 19 years old. Menstruation is a phenomenon unique to the females. Menstruation is a monthly occurrence that requires access to appropriate materials and facilities, without which, females suffer from poor menstrual hygiene which restricts their movement and self-confidence. Increased knowledge about menstruation right from childhood may escalate safe practices and may help in mitigating the suffering of millions of women.Methods: A cross sectional study was conducted among 200 adolescent girls in a rural field practice area of S. S. Institute of Medical Sciences. Data on socio-economic variables and menstrual characteristics were collected using pre-tested questionnaires for a period of two months from September to October 2018.Results: Total of 200 girls was interviewed. 87.6% of the girls were aware about menstruation prior to the attainment of menarche. Mothers were the first informants in about 56.5% girls. Overall 51.5% adolescent girls were using sanitary napkins as menstrual absorbent, while 45.6% were using used cloths. 97.6% girls practiced different restrictions during menstruation. Some of the sociodemographic factors like religion, type of family and mother’s education, SES were significantly associated with menstrual hygienic practices.Conclusions: There is a need to educate the girls about menstruation, its importance and hygiene maintenance; to enable them to lead a healthy reproductive life in future.

Patterns and problems of menstruation among the adolescent school girls of Delhi: a cross-sectional study

Background: Adolescence is the period of rapid physical growth, psychological and social changes. This period is marked by the onset of menarche in the girls. Menstruation is a natural biological process experienced by all adolescent girls and women in reproductive age. The menstrual cycle is characterized by variability in volume, pattern and regularity. Conversely, variability in menstrual cycle characteristics and menstrual disorders are common among adolescent girls. The objectives of the study were to determine patterns of menstruation, prevalence of menstrual disorders and hygienic practices during menstruation in the adolescent school girls.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 210 adolescent school girls of Delhi.Results: The mean age at menarche in the study subjects was 13.47±0.87 years. Average menstrual interval was days. Dysmenorrhea was reported by 76.1% of the girls, body ache was experienced by 64 (30.4%). Majority of girls 174 (82.8%) used sanitary pads as absorbent during cycle.Conclusions: Menstrual problems are frequent among adolescent girls. Dysmenorrhoea was the commonest problem among the adolescents. Adolescent girls withstand their pain and think it as a normal phenomenon. Educating students about menstrual health by health professionals and teachers can help in reducing their psychological and physical stress.

Predictive Value of Endometrial Thickness for Anemia in Adolescent Girls with Abnormal Uterine Bleeding / 임상소아혈액종양

BACKGROUND: Immaturity of the endocrine system that controls the normal menstrual cycle frequently results in abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) and elicits anemia in adolescent girls. This study was conducted to assess the predictive value of endometrial thickness (ET) for anemia in adolescent girls with AUB. METHODS: A retrospective chart review was performed for a cohort of adolescents (12–18 years old) with AUB who presented over a 10-year period. Complete blood count and ultrasonographic data of 115 adolescent girls with AUB were analyzed. Subjects were classified according to ET as group I (ET < 11 mm) and group II (≥11 mm), and the incidence of anemia was compared. Subjects were also classified according to age as group Y (12–15 years old of age) and group O (16–18 yr), and ET, hemoglobin (Hb), and incidence of anemia were compared. RESULTS: The incidence of anemia in all subjects was 67.8% and was significantly higher in group II than in group I (P < 0.001). The incidence of severe anemia was 56.9% in group II, which was higher than in group I (P=0.039). The incidence of anemia was not significantly different between groups Y and O. However, the incidence of severe anemia was significantly higher in group Y than in group O (P=0.001). CONCLUSION: AUB can result in severe anemia in adolescent girls particularly those who are close to menarche or have a thick endometrium. Early supervision of AUB is required in order to avoid anemia in adolescent girls with AUB.

Endometrial adenocarcinoma in a 13-year-old girl

Endometrial cancer is the third most common gynecologic cancer in the Korea and occurs mainly in menopausal women. Although it can develop in young premenopausal women cancer as well, an attack in the adolescent girl is very rare. A 13-year-old girl visited gynecology department with the complaint of abnormal uterine bleeding. An endometrial biopsy revealed FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) grade II endometrial adenocarcinoma. In the treatment of endometrial cancer, conservative management should be considered if the patient is nulliparous or wants the fertility preservation. Therefore, we decided to perform a hormonal therapy and a follow-up endometrial biopsy after progestin administration for eight months revealed no residual tumor. We report a case of endometrial cancer occurred in a 13-year-old girl with a brief review of the literature.

Prevalence of overweight and obesity in affluent adolescent girls in Surat city, western India.

Background: Incidence of obesity is increasing day by day because of various factors. It is important to assess the trend of obesity in particular geographical area. Objective: To assess the prevalence of obesity and overweight in affluent schoolgirls aged 13 to 15 years in Surat, India. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2009 to April 2010. From a list of all private schools in Surat, with tuition fees more than Rs. 2,000 per monyh, two schools were selected randomly using a random table. Height and weight was measured and BMI was calculated. Overweight and obesity was assessed by BMI for age. Student who had BMI for age>85th and < 95th percentile of reference population were classified as overweight and BMI for age>95th percentile of reference population were classified as obese (IAP Growth Monitoring Guidelines for Children from Birth to 18 Year). Results: Prevalence of obesity and overweight amongst the study subjects was 6.6% and 13.5% respectively. Conclusion: There is significant prevalence of obesity in affluent schoolgirls in Surat, India.

Perceived Constraints Among Adolescent Girls In Accessing Health Care In Assam, India

Adolescence is a period of transition from childhood to adulthood. The health need of adolescent girls is quite different from other groups of population and has strong policy implications. Study on perceived constraints in accessing health care is quite essential, because it highly affects the future course of action. This study aims to assess the perceived constraints of never married adolescent girls in accessing health care in Assam, India. This study used the National Family Health Survey 2005-06 data which covered 493 never married adolescent girls in Assam. Percentage distribution, median and inter quartile range were assessed, associations were cross tabulated and logistic regression was applied to assess degree of associations using SPSS 15. In Assam, the most commonly perceived constraints in accessing health care by never married adolescent girls were the concern about availability of the drugs followed by getting money needed for treatment. About 25.8 percent did not perceive any constraint, whereas 74.2 percent of them perceived some constraints, and about 51.4 percent of the girls perceived between zero-two constraint(s). Bi-variate analyses show that perception greatly varies across different groups or segments. Multi-variate analysis shows that mainly wealth index of the household, native language and education of the girls affected the perception of the never married adolescent girls. To remove the perceived constraints, government may manage the entire health care services through which availability, accessibility, affordability, acceptability and quality can be standardized. Further, efforts are also needed to ensure peace and harmony in the state.

A case of cystic change of adenomyosis in adolescent girl complaining acute pelvic pain / 대한산부인과학회지

Cystic adenomyosis is a rare form of adenomyosis of the uterine myometrium that has been described in older adults. This condition has not frequently been reported in the adolescent girl. The adenomyotic cyst was located within the myometrium of a 15-year-old adolescent girl suffering from acute lower abdominal pain, not dysmenorrhea. After laparoscopic operation, patients's symptoms improved. On pathology finding, the cyst diagnosed adenomyotic cyst. We report a case of adenomyotic cyst of the uterus in adolescent girl with a brief review of literatures.

Bone Acquisition Related Health Behavior Factors and Nutritional Uptake in High School Girl Student

BACKGROUND: The adolescent years are a window of opportunity to influence lifelong bone health. Bone acquisition is accelerated within the genetic potential by lifestyle choices. But some adolescent girls do not care about healthy lifestyle and nutrient uptake. Therefore, we investigated the nutrition and health behavior relating to bone acquisition. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was administered to high school girl students from 4 general and 4 commercial high schools in Uijongbu, Incheon, Suwon, and Yongin. The data was gathered from 378 girls by self-reported questionnaire, which included age, height, weight, health behavior relating to bone acquisition and food-frequency. Nutrient uptake was assessed by DIET PLUS 3.0 program. RESULTS: Girls with bone acquisition inhibiting health habits were reported. Among subjects, 12.2% had regular alcohol intake, 21% smoked daily, 77.7% did not exercise regularly, 58% had light-activity, 42.2% experienced weight reduction trial, 30% had low body weight and 72.8% had less than 2 meals a day. In nutrient uptake, 33.1% of subjects took less calcium uptake and 4% less protein uptake than recommended daily allowance. Comparing general and commercial high schools, commercial students had more bone acquisition inhibiting health habits. CONCLUSION: There were many high school girl students with bone acquisition inhibiting health and eating habits. Family physicians need to promote and educate good health habits with a balanced meal associated with bone acquisition in girls, especially commercial high school students.

Effect of Nutrition Education Program on Body Fat and Blood Lipids of Obese Young Adolescent Girls / 대한지역사회영양학회지

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of a nutrition education program on 42 obese young adolescent girls. Nutrition education was performed for six months including both group and individual programs, and was focused on improving their eating habits and food composition. The topics discussed once a week included : eating habits, lifestyle management, 5 basic food groups, snack and fast-food, how to eliminate empty calories, fat and hyperlipidemia, food diary, benefits and methods of exercise, vitamin and minerals, evaluation of fad diets, yo-yo effects and so on. The effects of the nutrition education program were evaluated for nutrition education and exercise regimen group (NE+E), nutrition education only group(NE), and control group(C). NE+E group had additional exercise programs 3times each week, while NE group was educated about exercise only by a nutrition education program. In both NE+E and NE groups, there was a significant decrease in bodyfat compared to C group, but NE+E group had a greater change than NE group(5.5% vs 3.1%). In addition, serum triglycerides decreased about 40mg/dl and total cholesterol 20mg/dl in both NE+E and NE groups. But HDL-C level was increased only in NE+E group. The greater changes in body fat and blood lipid levels occurred between the pre- and mid terms fo the education regimen. They kept their changed measurement throughout the 6 months follow-up studies. The results of this study show that this nutrition education program is helpful for obese adolescent girls in decreasing body fat and serum lipid levels. Also, the combination of an exercise regimen with the nutrition education proved to be more effective.

THE BASAL METABOLISM RATE OF ADOLESCENT GIRLS IN THE SUB-TROPICAL AREAS OF CHINA / 营养学报

The basal metabolism of 126 healthy adolescent girls aged from 12-17 living in Guangzhou are carefully measured over Summer-Autumn and Winter seasons. Of these 126 subjects 32 were determined the BM during the menstrual cycles. The open indirect calorimetry method was employed. All expired gas were collected in Douglas bags. Gas samples were carried out by Beckmen OM-11 oxygen analyser and LB-2 carbon dioxide analyser. The BMR results are:(1) The BMR of adolescent girls are gradually decreased as the index of secondary sexual appearance appeared. (2) When the energy expenditure expressed as kcal.kg-1.h~1, the difference of BMR is significantly at pre or post menarche. The BMR of pre-menarche is 8.3% higher than those of postmenarche. (3) BMR is influenced by menstrual cycles, shows a slight premenstrual rise and a 7.2% menstrual depression.( 4 ) The BMR of adolescent girls aged 12-17 in Guangzhou appeared a gradually decrease tendency with the growing process. The mean BMR values for aged from 12 to 17 were 164.64, 157.49, 152.13, 147.95,143.64,137.53 kJ.m-2.h-1 respectively The differences of BMR between aged 12 and 13 groups and the other age groups are statistical significant. This results are a littel (4.7-9.5%) lower than the figures of Fleish as compared with western count- rtes.( 5 ) There are seasonal changes of BMR for adolescent girls in Guangzhou. The BMR is 3.5% higher in Winter than in Summer-Autumn. (6) The BMR of adolescent girls are influenced by combined factors of surface area, body fat and pulse. The results are discussed.