ABSTRACT
Adolescence, between the ages of 10-19 years [1], contributes to almost 20% population in developing countries. Adolescence is a stage of accelerated growth and development [2, 3, 4] when requirements for iron increases significantly. Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia (IDA) in adolescence is a major public health problem. As per the global estimates, 23% adolescent girls are anemic [5]. Incidence of anemia in school age children tends to increase with age and corresponds with acceleration in growth during adolescence (Figure 27.1). Studies indicate that the prevalence of anemia in school children increases from 10 years old upwards and remains high until 18 years of age during the growth period (Figure 27.1). The highest prevalence is between the ages of 12-15 years with over 50% girls reported to be anemic [6, 7]. This trend in prevalence of IDA with age is due to inability to meet the higher requirement for iron with increase in body mass which is correlated to variations in velocity of growth of adolescents [8, 9].
