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Anaemia, Folate, Zinc and Copper Deficiencies Among Adolescent Schoolgirls in Eastern Sudan

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Abstract

Anaemia is a widespread problem especially in the tropics. Among adolescent girls, it has negative consequences on growth, school performance, morbidity and reproductive performance. A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of anaemia, iron, folate, zinc and copper deficiencies amongst adolescent schoolgirls in New Halfa, eastern Sudan, and to examine the relationship of these micronutrients with haemoglobin (Hb) levels. Out of 187 adolescent schoolgirls, 181 (96.8%) had anaemia (Hb < 12 g/dl); 21% had mild anaemia (Hb 11.0–11.9 g/dl); 66.8.1% had moderate anaemia (Hb 8.0–10.9 g/dl), and 12.1% had severe anaemia (Hb < 8 g/dl), respectively. Iron deficiency (S-ferritin < 12 μg/l), iron deficiency anaemia (<12 m/dl and S- ferritin < 12 μg/l) and folate deficiency (S-folate < 3 ng/ml) were prevalent in 17.6%, 16.5% and 69% of these girls, respectively. Nine percent and 5.9% of these girls had zinc (<75 μg/ml) and copper deficiency (<75 μg/ml), respectively. Twenty-six (14%) girls had ≥2 micronutrient deficiencies. S-ferritin and zinc were significantly lower in patients with severe anaemia. Haemoglobin levels were significantly positively correlated with zinc levels (r = 0.161, P = 0.03) and with copper levels (r = 0.151, P = 0.03). Thus, interventions are required to prevent and control anaemia in this setting. Further research is needed.

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Acknowledgments

We are very grateful to the girls who participated in the study and the local heath authority in New Halfa, Kassala State, Sudan. We thank Mr. Abdalla Hafazalla, Saif Siddeeg and Faith Osman for their excellent technical assistance. I Adam was supported by New Halfa and Sinnar Sugar factories Sudan.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Khartoum, P.O. Box 102, Khartoum, Sudan

    Ishraga I. Abdelrahim, Ayoub A. Mohamed, Mustafa I. Elbashir & I. Adam

  2. New Halfa Teaching Hospital, P.O. Box 61, New Halfa, Sudan

    Hyder M. Mahgoub

  3. Sudan Atomic Energy Commission, Khartoum, Sudan

    Naji I. Ali

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  1. Ishraga I. Abdelrahim
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  2. Hyder M. Mahgoub
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  3. Ayoub A. Mohamed
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  4. Naji I. Ali
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  5. Mustafa I. Elbashir
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  6. I. Adam
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Correspondence to I. Adam.

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Abdelrahim, I.I., Mahgoub, H.M., Mohamed, A.A. et al. Anaemia, Folate, Zinc and Copper Deficiencies Among Adolescent Schoolgirls in Eastern Sudan. Biol Trace Elem Res 132, 60–66 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12011-009-8397-7

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