Abalkhail Bahaa, Shawky Sherine
Department of Community Medicine and Primary Heath Care, College of Medicine and Allied Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Int J Food Sci Nutr. 2002 Nov;53(6):519-28. doi: 10.1080/09637480220164370.
Iron deficiency anaemia is one of most prevalent nutritional disorders worldwide. It is known to affect the health and cognitive ability of children and adolescents. Studies in Saudi Arabia concentrate only on the population of young children and pregnant females or girls. Studies on the whole school student population is lacking. The objectives of this study were to identify the nutritional habits and the prevalence of anaemia among school students in Jeddah, as well as to recognize the students' awareness of their anaemic nutritional status. Data were collected from a sample of Saudi school children in Jeddah City from 42 boys' and 42 girls' schools during the month of April 2000. Data collection was done by an in-person interview to collect socio-demographic factors, nutritional habits, weight and height. Haemoglobin was measured in a sample of 800 students selected at random from both genders and different age groups. Anaemia was defined according to the new WHO cut-off levels for haemoglobin as: blood haemoglobin <11.5 g/dl for the 5-11 years boys and girls; <12.0 g/dl for 12-14 years boys and girls; <12.0 g/dl for 15+ girls and <13.0 g/dl for 15+ years boys. Proportion and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated and significance was considered when the 95% CI did not overlap. Anaemia was reported among 20.5% of school students. Anaemia was more prevalent among students of at least 12 years as compared to the younger age group. Also, anaemia was more marked among governmental school attendees and those born to low-educated mothers. Menstruating girls were at around double the risk of being anaemic than non-menstruating girls. Anaemia was associated with negative impact on school performance and was more marked among those who failed their exams as compared to students with excellent results. Skipping breakfast was reported by 14.9% of students and this habit did not differ by age, sex, body mass index or social class. Skipping breakfast was more marked among students with poor school performance as compared to those with very good or excellent results. Only 34.1% of anaemic school students were aware of being anaemic. Awareness was nearly equal in all age groups and social classes but girls were more aware of their anaemic status than boys. Iron deficiency anaemia appears to be prevalent among school students. At age 12 years and over, low social class and menstruating girls constitute the high-risk groups. Screening is recommended for high-risk groups and school health programs are crucial to improve students' nutritional habits, knowledge and awareness.
缺铁性贫血是全球最普遍的营养失调症之一。众所周知，它会影响儿童和青少年的健康及认知能力。沙特阿拉伯的研究仅集中于幼儿、孕妇或女童群体。缺乏针对全体在校学生群体的研究。本研究的目的是确定吉达市在校学生的营养习惯和贫血患病率，以及了解学生对自身贫血营养状况的认知。2000年4月，从吉达市42所男校和42所女校的沙特在校儿童样本中收集数据。通过面对面访谈收集社会人口学因素、营养习惯、体重和身高数据。从不同性别和年龄组中随机抽取800名学生测量血红蛋白。根据世界卫生组织新的血红蛋白临界值定义贫血：5至11岁的男孩和女孩，血液血红蛋白<11.5 g/dl；12至14岁的男孩和女孩，<12.0 g/dl；15岁及以上女孩，<12.0 g/dl；15岁及以上男孩，<13.0 g/dl。计算比例和95%置信区间（CI），当95%CI不重叠时考虑其显著性。20.5%的在校学生被报告患有贫血。与年龄较小的组相比，12岁及以上的学生中贫血更为普遍。此外，公立学校学生和母亲受教育程度低的学生中贫血更为明显。月经初潮女孩患贫血的风险约是非月经初潮女孩的两倍。贫血对学业成绩有负面影响，与成绩优异的学生相比，考试不及格的学生中这种影响更为明显。14.9%的学生报告有不吃早餐的习惯，这种习惯在年龄、性别、体重指数或社会阶层方面没有差异。与成绩非常好或优异的学生相比，学业成绩差的学生中不吃早餐的情况更为明显。只有34.1%的贫血在校学生意识到自己贫血。各年龄组和社会阶层的认知情况几乎相同，但女孩比男孩更了解自己的贫血状况。缺铁性贫血在在校学生中似乎很普遍。12岁及以上、社会阶层低和月经初潮女孩构成高危群体。建议对高危群体进行筛查，学校健康计划对于改善学生的营养习惯、知识和认知至关重要。
