Impact of Anemia on the School Performance of Students at a Public School in Ceará

INTRODUCTION:
Anemia is defined as a condition in which hemoglobin levels are below the normal range. Among children and adolescents, iron deficiency is responsible for most cases. Iron is an essential compound for the production of red blood cells and transportation of oxygen, as well as for the integration of the enzymatic systems of different tissues. Patients with iron deficiency anemia may have impaired cognitive, physical and immune development, thus increasing the risk of infections and even death. This is a cross-sectional study to analyze the prevalence of anemia and its impact on school and nutritional performance among elementary school adolescents aged between 10 and 14 years from May 2019 to October 2019.
METHODS:
The diagnostic criteria for anemia are: between 5 and 11 years, hemoglobin < 11.5 g/dl and hematocrit < 34%; from 12 to 14 years old, hemoglobin < 12g/dl and hematocrit 36%. For school performance, data from the students individual report card were used and the average of the subjects was considered
RESULTS:
The prevalence of anemia was 9.8%.As for school performance, students with anemia had an average grade of 5.8, while students without anemia had an average of 6.8, showing a statistically significant difference (p = 0.02). There was also greater absenteeism among students with anemia, 16.1% of absences, compared to those without anemia, 10.44% of absences (p = 0.02).
CONCLUSION:
The impact on anemia in school performance, correlating it to absenteeism and grades, which reinforces the importance of self-care, a balanced diet and health promotion.