Knowledge and Practice Regarding Anemia Prevention Among Adolescent Girls in a School of Urban Area in Nepal

Introduction: Anemia can occur in the phases of life, but it is more common during adolescence. Poor nutrition among adolescent girls is associated with adverse health problems in future motherhood. Early detection and effective intervention of anemia among adolescent girls improve future productive life. This study aims to determine the status of knowledge and practice regarding anemia prevention among adolescent girls in a school. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among adolescent girls in a school, in Kathmandu. Convenience sampling technique was used. The adolescent girls willing to participate were included in this study. A structured self administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The status of knowledge was scored as adequate (≥19.86) and inadequate (<19.86) as well as the status of practice was scored as good (≥9.17) and poor (<9.17) based on the mean obtained score. Data was analyzed through IBM SPSS Statistics version 20.0. Results: Among 230 participants, 102 (44.35%) participants had adequate knowledge, and 102 (44.35%) participants had good practices regarding anemia prevention. Among all, 199 (86.52%) participants responded that anemia is a health problem, and 207 (90%) participants responded that they had taken iron and folic acid in the last year. Conclusions: More than half participants had inadequate knowledge and poor practice regarding anemia prevention. One tenth of participants responded that they had not taken iron folic acid tablets in the last year.