Attention for and awareness of anemia in adolescents in Karnataka, India: A qualitative study.
Between 1990 and 2016 the number of adolescents with anemia world-wide increased by 20% to almost one in four. Iron deficiency in adolescence results in compromised growth, decreased cognitive function, and depressed immune function, and can increase the risk of negative outcomes in pregnancy, espec...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Public Library of Science (PLoS)
2023-01-01
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| Series: | PLoS ONE |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0283631 |
| _version_ | 1797843169163870208 |
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| author | Bronwen Gillespie Geetanjali Katageri Shumona Salam Umesh Ramadurg Shrinivas Patil Jayaraj Mhetri Umesh Charantimath Shivaprasad Goudar Ashwini Dandappanavar Chandrashekhar Karadiguddi Ashalata Mallapur Phaniraj Vastrad Subarna Roy Basavaraj Peerapur Dilly Anumba |
| author_facet | Bronwen Gillespie Geetanjali Katageri Shumona Salam Umesh Ramadurg Shrinivas Patil Jayaraj Mhetri Umesh Charantimath Shivaprasad Goudar Ashwini Dandappanavar Chandrashekhar Karadiguddi Ashalata Mallapur Phaniraj Vastrad Subarna Roy Basavaraj Peerapur Dilly Anumba |
| author_sort | Bronwen Gillespie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Between 1990 and 2016 the number of adolescents with anemia world-wide increased by 20% to almost one in four. Iron deficiency in adolescence results in compromised growth, decreased cognitive function, and depressed immune function, and can increase the risk of negative outcomes in pregnancy, especially in the case of young adolescents. In India, despite several decades of governmental investment in anemia prevention and treatment, more than half of women of reproductive age are anemic, with rates even higher in the adolescent population. Although awareness of adolescence as a nutrition-sensitive developmental stage is increasing, there is a lack of qualitative research on the perspectives of adolescents and families on anemia and related services. In this study, we explored the issues influencing adolescents' awareness of anemia in three rural areas of Karnataka. Sixty-four in-depth interviews and six focus group discussions were conducted with adolescents (those who had never been pregnant, pregnant adolescents, and young mothers), community members, and nutrition-related service providers in the health and education sectors. An inductive analytical approach was used. We found that adolescent girls, particularly those who have not experienced pregnancy or motherhood, had very low awareness of anemia. State programs including school-based distribution of iron and folic acid supplements and nutrition talks were not seen to be resulting in knowledge and acceptance of the importance of preventing anemia. Pregnancy represents a turning point in which adolescents are systematically tested for anemia as part of routine antenatal care, increasing their awareness of, and access to, treatment for the condition. At the same time, pregnancy represents to family and community a period to insist on a nutritious diet. For progress in anemia reduction to be made, improved age-appropriate measures specific for adolescence are required. Improving school-based nutrition outreach is an important opportunity to reach adolescents. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:00:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3d8ce4c80f574948a1bf3045599f062f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1932-6203 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T17:00:26Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Public Library of Science (PLoS) |
| record_format | Article |
| series | PLoS ONE |
| spelling | doaj.art-3d8ce4c80f574948a1bf3045599f062f2023-04-21T05:32:29ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032023-01-01184e028363110.1371/journal.pone.0283631Attention for and awareness of anemia in adolescents in Karnataka, India: A qualitative study.Bronwen GillespieGeetanjali KatageriShumona SalamUmesh RamadurgShrinivas PatilJayaraj MhetriUmesh CharantimathShivaprasad GoudarAshwini DandappanavarChandrashekhar KaradiguddiAshalata MallapurPhaniraj VastradSubarna RoyBasavaraj PeerapurDilly AnumbaBetween 1990 and 2016 the number of adolescents with anemia world-wide increased by 20% to almost one in four. Iron deficiency in adolescence results in compromised growth, decreased cognitive function, and depressed immune function, and can increase the risk of negative outcomes in pregnancy, especially in the case of young adolescents. In India, despite several decades of governmental investment in anemia prevention and treatment, more than half of women of reproductive age are anemic, with rates even higher in the adolescent population. Although awareness of adolescence as a nutrition-sensitive developmental stage is increasing, there is a lack of qualitative research on the perspectives of adolescents and families on anemia and related services. In this study, we explored the issues influencing adolescents' awareness of anemia in three rural areas of Karnataka. Sixty-four in-depth interviews and six focus group discussions were conducted with adolescents (those who had never been pregnant, pregnant adolescents, and young mothers), community members, and nutrition-related service providers in the health and education sectors. An inductive analytical approach was used. We found that adolescent girls, particularly those who have not experienced pregnancy or motherhood, had very low awareness of anemia. State programs including school-based distribution of iron and folic acid supplements and nutrition talks were not seen to be resulting in knowledge and acceptance of the importance of preventing anemia. Pregnancy represents a turning point in which adolescents are systematically tested for anemia as part of routine antenatal care, increasing their awareness of, and access to, treatment for the condition. At the same time, pregnancy represents to family and community a period to insist on a nutritious diet. For progress in anemia reduction to be made, improved age-appropriate measures specific for adolescence are required. Improving school-based nutrition outreach is an important opportunity to reach adolescents.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0283631 |
| spellingShingle | Bronwen Gillespie Geetanjali Katageri Shumona Salam Umesh Ramadurg Shrinivas Patil Jayaraj Mhetri Umesh Charantimath Shivaprasad Goudar Ashwini Dandappanavar Chandrashekhar Karadiguddi Ashalata Mallapur Phaniraj Vastrad Subarna Roy Basavaraj Peerapur Dilly Anumba Attention for and awareness of anemia in adolescents in Karnataka, India: A qualitative study. PLoS ONE |
| title | Attention for and awareness of anemia in adolescents in Karnataka, India: A qualitative study. |
| title_full | Attention for and awareness of anemia in adolescents in Karnataka, India: A qualitative study. |
| title_fullStr | Attention for and awareness of anemia in adolescents in Karnataka, India: A qualitative study. |
| title_full_unstemmed | Attention for and awareness of anemia in adolescents in Karnataka, India: A qualitative study. |
| title_short | Attention for and awareness of anemia in adolescents in Karnataka, India: A qualitative study. |
| title_sort | attention for and awareness of anemia in adolescents in karnataka india a qualitative study |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0283631 |
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