Ningappa Asha Rani1, Rajeshwari Arasegowda2, Pramit Mukherjee3, Shilpashree Yeliyur Dhananjay1. 1. Assistant Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, B G Nagara, Karnataka, India. 2. Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, B G Nagara, Karnataka, India. 3. Student, Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, B G Nagara, Karnataka, India.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Nutritional deficiency anaemia can lead to development of headache, fatigue, lethargy, apathy, exertional dyspnoea, palpitations and tinnitus and thereby decrease the quality of everyday life to a great extent. Such symptoms may pose a hindrance for students in their academic life and have a negative impact on their career. AIM: To determine prevalence of nutritional deficiency anaemia and its correlation with academic performance among medical students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences. Two hundred eighty nine healthy undergraduate medical students of both genders were included in this study. A predesigned and pre-structured questionnaire was used as a tool to obtain information regarding demographic profile, dietary habits and academic performance. Haemoglobin level was estimated. Student's t-test and Chi-square test were employed. RESULTS: Majority of the participants were within the age group of 17-20 years (84.4%). The overall prevalence of anaemia was 15.6% with high rates among female students (93.3%), this gender difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). There was statistically significant difference in Hb% (p=0.009) among high and low performers. There was no association between the anaemic status and students scholastic performance (χ2=3.1533, p=0.368). CONCLUSION: The mean haemoglobin level was higher among low performer, indicating that nutritional anaemia may not \play a major role in educational performance and intelligence in higher education.
INTRODUCTION:Nutritional deficiency anaemia can lead to development of headache, fatigue, lethargy, apathy, exertional dyspnoea, palpitations and tinnitus and thereby decrease the quality of everyday life to a great extent. Such symptoms may pose a hindrance for students in their academic life and have a negative impact on their career. AIM: To determine prevalence of nutritional deficiency anaemia and its correlation with academic performance among medical students. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Adichunchanagiri Institute of Medical Sciences. Two hundred eighty nine healthy undergraduate medical students of both genders were included in this study. A predesigned and pre-structured questionnaire was used as a tool to obtain information regarding demographic profile, dietary habits and academic performance. Haemoglobin level was estimated. Student's t-test and Chi-square test were employed. RESULTS: Majority of the participants were within the age group of 17-20 years (84.4%). The overall prevalence of anaemia was 15.6% with high rates among female students (93.3%), this gender difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). There was statistically significant difference in Hb% (p=0.009) among high and low performers. There was no association between the anaemic status and students scholastic performance (χ2=3.1533, p=0.368). CONCLUSION: The mean haemoglobin level was higher among low performer, indicating that nutritional anaemia may not \play a major role in educational performance and intelligence in higher education.
Entities:
Keywords:
Academic performance; Haemoglobin levels; Rural area
Authors: Susan P Walker; Theodore D Wachs; Julie Meeks Gardner; Betsy Lozoff; Gail A Wasserman; Ernesto Pollitt; Julie A Carter Journal: Lancet Date: 2007-01-13 Impact factor: 79.321
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