Menstrual abnormality, maternal illiteracy, and household factors as main predictors of anemia among adolescent girls in Ethiopia: Systematic review and meta-analysis.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to determine the pooled prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls in Ethiopia and identify associated risk factors, including the role of iron supplementation.
Results Summary
The study found a moderately high pooled prevalence of anemia (23.03%) among adolescent girls in Ethiopia, with factors like low dietary diversity, illiterate mothers, large household size, food insecurity, and prolonged menstrual bleeding significantly associated with anemia. Iron supplementation was recommended for girls with menstrual cycles lasting more than 5 days.
Population
Adolescent girls in Ethiopia
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
- | neutral | anemia | adolescent girls in Ethiopia | 23.03% (95% confidence interval: 17.07, 28.98) | pooled prevalence | #1 |
Low dietary diversity | increase | anemia | adolescent girls | odds ratio: 1.56; 95% confidence interval: 1.05, 2.32 | associated with | #2 |
illiterate mothers | increase | anemia | adolescent girls | odds ratio: 1.45; 95% confidence interval: 1.13, 1.86 | associated with | #3 |
household size greater than five | increase | anemia | adolescent girls | odds ratio: 1.65; 95% confidence interval: 1.14, 2.38 | associated with | #4 |
food-insecure households | increase | anemia | adolescent girls | odds ratio: 1.48; 95% confidence interval: 1.21, 1.82 | associated with | #5 |
menstrual blood flow more than 5 days | increase | anemia | adolescent girls | odds ratio: 6.21; 95% confidence interval: 1.67, 23.12 | associated with | #6 |
Iron supplementation | decrease | anemia | adolescent females who have a menstrual cycle that lasts longer than 5 days | - | recommended for | #7 |
BACKGROUND: Adolescent girls are more likely to develop anemia as a result of physical and physiological changes that place a greater strain on their nutritional needs. Primary studies, on the other hand, may not be sufficient to provide a complete picture of anemia in adolescent girls and its major risk factors. OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to describe the pooled prevalence of adolescent girls' anemia and the factors that contribute. METHODS: We conducted a systematic review of observational studies using the databases CINAHL (EBSCO), PubMed, Science Direct, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the articles, and studies of fair to good quality were included. We pooled anemia prevalence among adolescents and odds ratio estimates for risk factors. Subgroup analysis employing sample size and study setup was computed to determine the source of heterogeneity, and the RESULTS: The overall pooled prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls in Ethiopia was 23.03% (95% confidence interval: 17.07, 28.98). Low dietary diversity (odds ratio: 1.56; 95% confidence interval: 1.05, 2.32), illiterate mothers (odds ratio: 1.45; 95% confidence interval: 1.13, 1.86), household size greater than five (odds ratio: 1.65; 95% confidence interval: 1.14, 2.38), food-insecure households (odds ratio: 1.48; 95% confidence interval: 1.21, 1.82), and menstrual blood flow more than 5 days (odds ratio: 6.21; 95% confidence interval: 1.67, 23.12) were the identified factors associated with anemia among adolescent girls. CONCLUSION: The pooled prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls in Ethiopia was moderately high. Therefore, to combat the burden of anemia among adolescent girls offering nutritional education is crucial. Iron supplementation is also recommended for adolescent females who have a menstrual cycle that lasts longer than 5 days.