Awareness and Practice of Reproductive age Group Women Regarding Anemia, Iron Rich Diet and its Impact on Hemoglobin Levels at a Tertiary Care Hospital

Abstract

To assess the level of knowledge about the causes, prevention, and treatment of iron deficiency anaemia among women of childbearing age in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. The survey was performed by using semi structured pre-selected questionnaires at a tertiary care hospital Chennai, Tamilnadu from February 2021 to March 2021. The study included women between the ages of 18 and 45 who did not have any pre-existing medical or gynecological issues. Iron Deficiency Anemia (IDA) was diagnosed in 200 women. 64.5% of women (n=200) were aware of the term IDA, with the proportion decreasing by 8.5 percent in the 30-45 age group. The majority of the women were aware that iron is present in their diet and that it is important for their health. Women with children, as well as working women, had a better understanding of the IDA. In our analysis, we observed that sociodemographic factors such as education level, economic status, and iron consumption have a major impact on the haemoglobin condition of the current study. The knowledge of Iron Deficiency Anemia showed in study population have largest ratio in the age interval between 25-35 Years.  When compared with homemakers the employed women showed statistically significant p-value <0.001, the awareness of IDA 80% in employed women. It was found that 59% of women who took regular iron supplements with food. Awareness of IDA is directly related to a society's educational and social status, and it has been found to increase over time with exploration and access to media and health care facilities. In terms of nutritional facts, younger women are more concerned about their own health and also more cautious about their expected infants than older women.