PREVALENCE OF IRON DEFICIENCY ANEMIA (IDA) AMONGST NURSING STUDENTS OF MISURATA UNIVERSITY, LIBYA

Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is the most common type of anemia. Anemia is defined as a clinical condition characterized by a reduction in hemoglobin concentration of blood or the number of red blood cells (RBCs) is poorlybelow the normal. The present study was conducted to investigate about prevalence of iron deficiency anemia amongnursing students and elucidate the correlations between hemoglobin level, gender, physical signs, and clinical symptoms. Sixty-one students aged 18-30 years were selected randomly, during the period from April up to December2018. Hemoglobin (Hb) level was measured for each respondent. Pearson correlation was used to find a correlationbetween Hb and other parameters. where P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The results showed that,there was 16% found to be suffering from anemia, when 28% of females had diagnosed low Hb levels with anemia.A significant (P˂0.05) correlation between Hb level, sex, pale-colored inside lower eyelids, general pallor and heartbeat were detected. There were no significant (P>0.05) correlation between Hb level and sore mouth, anorexia, headache occurrence, dizziness and breath shortness. It was detected that, the prevalence of mild anemia among nursingstudents have been measured. The nutritional interventions such as change lifestyle, food fortification and diet diversification should be recommended to prevent the occurrence of anemia complications.