A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF DAILY NUTRIENT INTAKE AND ITS RELATION TO HAEMOGLOBIN LEVEL OF SANGLI AND KOLHAPUR CITY ADOLESCENT GIRLS

Abstract:-

Adolescent girls (age 10-19 years) are at high risk of iron deficiency and anemia due to accelerated increase in requirements for iron, poor dietary intake of iron, high rate of infection and worm infestation as well as the social norm of early marriage and adolescent pregnancy. If adolescent girls are well nourished, they can make optimal use of their skills, talents and energies today, and be healthy and responsible citizens and parents of healthy babies tomorrow.  The findings of the present study reveal that the food and nutrient intake of adolescent girls from both cities are in general below the RDA prescribed intake for this group. Inadequate intake of iron, predominance of food of plant origin, low frequency consumption of foods of animal origin and of fruits and vegetables might have resulted in iron deficiency and it’s observed in a high prevalence of anaemia among both cities adolescent girls.