INTRODUCTION:

Anemia is a global public health problem affecting 1.62 billion people globally, which Corresponds to 24.8% of the population as per WHO^[1,2]. It is a significant burden on the social and economic development for both the developing and developed countries alike^[1].

Anemia is the most prevalent nutritional public health problem across the world. Characterized by a decreased number of red blood cells and has serious implications for the health, cognitive development, productivity of adults and children worldwide^[3]. In India, it affects almost all ages and physiological groups such as preschool children, adolescent girls, pregnant women and lactating mothers because of the increased demand for iron during preschool life and adolescent age and additional demand during pregnancy and lactation^[4].

The highest prevalence is in preschool age children and the lowest prevalence is in men as per the WHO^[5]. In India 58.6% of children, 53.2% of non pregnant women and 50.4% of pregnant women were found to be anemic in 2016 as per the NFHS^[6].

It is the most common cause of malnutrition in the world and is the eighth leading cause of diseases in girls and women in developing countries in Africa and south Asia ^[7]. Prevalence of anemia among women in India was 51.40% as of 2016. It’s highest value over the past 26 years was 55.40% in 1990, while it’s lowest value was 51.10% in 2014^[8]. Iron deficiency anemia was the top cause of maternal death in India and the associate cause in 20% of maternal deaths. Anemia during pregnancy also increases the chances of fetal deaths, abnormalities, preterm and underweight babies. It’s a burden for, them for their families and for the economic development and productivity of the country^[9]

Iron deficiency anemia has remained the top cause of disability in India for 10years now according to an GBD surveys (2016). The main causes of anemia in Indian context such as low iron intake, limited vitamin C intake, lower gastric acidity relative to populations of European descent, among women-repeated child bearing, lactation and poor access to nutritional supplements following menarche and during pregnancy may cause of further exacerbate anemia. Furthermore hookworm infestation and malaria are also important cause of anemia. Various socio cultural issues that influence anemia status, including poverty, micronutrient deficiencies, Cultural and religious practices, access to health services and poor awareness of the condition and preventive measures. Thus the etiology of anemia in India. Anemia more often in women than in men, the main reason is excessive loss of iron or demand of iron associated with menstruation and pregnancy. Nearly half a billion women of reproductive age worldwide are affected by anemia^[10].

Anemia is a major health problem in Karnataka. According to Indian health report on nutrition 62.5% of women aged 15-49 years and 51.3% of adolescent girls aged 15-19years are anemic, 74% in children below 5 years of age are anemic in Karnataka. Overall prevalence was found to the 45.3% of females and 16.2% of males are affected by anemia in Karnataka^[11]. Frequency of anemia was observed to be higher in vegetarians than mixed diet individuals. The prevalence of severe anemia was high in rural area as compared to urban area.

The knowledge and household practices of women towards the prevention of iron deficiency anemia differ from region to region and with individual women. Adequate Knowledge of anemia may encourage to take iron supplement to prevent anemia. Lower education will lead to higher rates of anemia. Though there are various programs started by government of India to create awareness and to decrease the prevalence of anemia. This study aimed to assess the level of knowledge about causes, symptom and prevention of iron deficiency anemia among women of reproductive ages of rural area^[12].

OBJECTIVE:

To assess the knowledge level about anemia among reproductive age women at suttur

METHODOLOGY:

Research design:

An explorative descriptive method has been adopted.

Setting:

The present study was conducted in suttur village.

Sample and sampling Technique:

By simple random sampling technique. 90 women of reproductive age participated in the study.

Instrument used:

Section 1- Data on demographic variables:

It consist of the following items such as age, religion, dietary pattern, type of family, marital status, number of children, educational status, occupation and income.

Section 2- Assessment of knowledge about anemia:

90 women of reproductive age participated in the study using structured questionnaire technique on knowledge about anemia. It had maximum possible score of 20 and minimum was 0. The score 0 to 9 were categorized as inadequate knowledge, 10 to 14 were categorized as average knowledge and 15 to 20 were categorized as adequate knowledge.

RESULTS:

Section 1- Description of selected personal variables of study subjects

Table 1- Frequency and percentage distribution of women according to their personal variables. n=90

Sl. No.	Variables	Frequency	Percentage
01.	Age in years
	a. 18-24years	13	14.44
	b. 25-31years	36	40
	c. 32-38years	26	28.89
	d. 39-45years	15	16.67
02.	Religion
	a. Hindu	73	81.11
	b. Muslim	08	8.89
	c. Christian	09	10
03.	Dietary pattern
	a. Vegetarian	54	60
	b. Non-vegetarian	36	40
04.	Type of family
	a. Joint family	40	44.44
	b. Nuclear family	50	55.55
05.	Marital Status
	a. Married	79	87.78
	b. Unmarried	05	5.55
	c. Divorced	05	5.55
	d. Widow	01	1.11
06.	Number of children
	a. No child	08	8.89
	b. One child	20	22.22
	c. Two children	53	58.89
	d. More than two children	09	10
07.	Educational Status
	a. 1 -10^th standard	45	50
	b. PUC /ITI /Diploma	27	30
	c. Degree	11	12.22
	d. Professional courses	07	7.78
08.	Occupation
	a. Part time employment	07	7.78
	b. Full time employment	34	37.78
	c. Housewife	38	42.22
	d. Self employment	11	12.22
09.	Income
	a. Below 3000/-	34	37.78
	b. 3001/- to 6000/-	28	31.11
	c. 6001/- to 9000/-	11	12.22
	d. Above 9000/-	17	18.89

The data presented in the table 1 shows that majority of the women in the age group between 25 to 31 years. Majority of the women were Hindu. The majority of the women are in nuclear type of family and family members are less than 4 in number. Also most of the women are vegetarians and majority of the women are housewives. The majority of women in their families had an income of rupees below 3000/- with their education between 1to 10^th std. And the majority of the women’s are married also most of the married women’s have two children.

Section 2 - Description of women based on their knowledge level.

Table 2-Frequency and percentage distribution of women according to their knowledge level.

Sl. No	Knowledge level	Frequency	Percentage
1	Good (above 75%)	38	42.22
2	Average (74%to 50%)	30	33.33
3	Low (below 49%)	22	24.44

Among 90 participants, the minimum score obtained was five and the maximum was eighteen. 42.22% of the participants had adequate knowledge, 33.33% of the participants had average knowledge and 24.44% of the participants had inadequate knowledge on prevention of anemia.

The data presented in the table shows that majority of the women are having good knowledge about anemia.

CONCLUSION:

The reproductive age women in this region have good knowledge about anemia but lack of healthy iron rich foods in daily food, drinking tea, irregular intake of breakfast, low household monthly income all of those were increasing the prevalence of anemia. So better practices are mainly contributed to prevention of anemia therefore, there it is a need to strengthen the existing national nutritional anemia control programme. As a health professional we all should gear up our activities towards solving this problem by the sincere efforts.

REFERENCES:

1. World health organization. The world health report 2002: Reducing risks, promoting healthy life. Geneva: world health Organization: 2002.

2. World health organization. WHO report? Word prevalence of anemia 1993-2005. WHO global database on anemia. Geneva, Switzerland: world health Organization: 2008.

3. International institute of population service (IIPS), “National family health survey (NFHS-3)”.2007, http://rchiips.Org/nfhs/ NFHS-3%20data/vol-1/india_volume-I_Corrected_17Oct08.pdf

4. Park. K, textbook of preventive and social medicine, 21st edition, M/S banarsidas publishers.

5. https://WWW.Who.int/vmnis/anameia/prevalence/Summary/anaemia_data_status_t2/en/(cited on 17/03/2020 at 11.30am).

6. https://telanganatoday.com/five_health_tests_every_women_should_Get_done

7. (cited on17/3/20 at 12.00 pm). Simon, Peter, Donald. Hook worm related anaemia among women: A systematic review: Journal of PLOS neglected tropical disease 2(9):291.

8. https://WWW.indexmundi.com/facts/india/prevalence_of_anaemia(cited on 15/03/2020).

9. https://WWW.ncbi.n/m.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc4928413/ (cited on 18/03/2020).

10. https://WWW.hindawi.com/Journals/anaemia/2018/7123976/ (cited on18/03/2020).

11. https://WWW.pragatipublication.com/assets/uploads/doc/69157-113-120.16045.pdf(cited on 14/03/2020).

12. https://WWW.Researchgate.net/publications/313797507_knowledge_and_self_reported_practices_on_prevention_of_iron_deficiency_anaemia_among_women_of_reproductive_age_in_rural_area (cited on 18/03/2020).

Received on 18.05.2020 Modified on 23.06.2020

Asian J. Nursing Education and Research. 2020; 10(4):471-473.

DOI: 10.5958/2349-2996.2020.00100.7