IOSR Journal of Dental and Medical Sciences (IOSR-JDMS) e-ISSN: 2279-0853, p-ISSN: 2279-0861.Volume 16, Issue 7 Ver. III (July. 2017), PP 107-111 www.iosrjournals.org DOI: 10.9790/0853-160703107111 www.iosrjournals.org 107 | Page To Study The Prevalence of Anemia Among The Adolescent Girls In Urban Training Health Center Tripuri- A Field Practice Area of Community Medicine Department, Government Medical College, Patiala, Punjab. * Dr. Manohar Lal Sharma 1 ,Dr. Virender Verma,(Corresponding Author) 2 , Dr. Rajinder Singh Balgir 3 ,Dr. Amarjit Singh 4 1) & 2) Assistant Professors, Department of Community Medicine, GMC Patiala, Punjab. 3 Professor, Department of Community Medicine, GMC Patiala, Punjab. 4 Professor and Head, Department of Community Medicine, GMC Patiala, Punjab. Corresponding author: * Dr. Virender Verma Abstract Background : Nutritional Anemia is one of the major public health problems in the developing countries having not only an adverse impact on the overall efficiency of individuals, but also imposing an enhanced risk of morbidity due to infectious diseases. Adolescents are at a higher risk because of the gaps between the enhanced requirement of nutrients for their overall development and the actual intake. In the female adolescents, this is further aggravated due to regular loss of blood during menstruation. It affects adversely their adulthood and child bearing. Aims and Objectives : To find out the prevalence of anemia among the adolescent girls and to study their dietary pattern and the gaps in the nutrition. Material and methods : A cross sectional community based study was conducted on 250 adolescent girls residing in Tripuri area falling under Urban Training Health Center (UTHC), Department of Community Medicine, GMC Patiala. The subjects were selected by systematic randomized sampling technique from the line list of all the 4 areas under UTHC, prepared by the UTHC staff in December 2016 and the information was collected on the pre structured, pre tested proforma from the selected study subjects regarding socio demographic factors, dietary factors and menstrual factors by face to face interview technique. Hemoglobin was estimated by Sahli’s method and the report was shared on the spot with the family. Data, thus collected was compiled and analyzed by using Microsoft Xcel and results were obtained. Results : Prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls was found out to be 79.6 % with 63.6 % mild and 16 % moderate anemia. No subject suffering from severe anemia was detected. Age wise, 83.17 % adolescent girls below 14 years of age were found to be anemic, while 77.02 % were between 14 & 16 Years of age and 76.81 % were older than 16 years. Similarly, 87.65 % adolescent girls had not yet attained menarche, were found to be anemic while in those where menarche had already set in 75.73 % anemic. Anemic adolescent girls had a strong attraction towards junk food and many used to have it even every day. Conclusions : A high prevalence of anemia has been detected among the adolescent girls in urban field practice area of GMC Patiala. Hence, nutrional status of the girls is required to be improved by providing counseling and nutrition supplementation and through regular supply of Iron Folic Acid Tablets. Keywords : Adolescent girls, Anemia, Junk food, Line List, Menarche. I. Introduction Adolescence, according to World Health Organization, can be defined as a transitional phase between the childhood to adulthood and it is 10-19 years of age (1). The adolescents represent approximately 22 % of total population. This period is considered as a very crucial period as there is an enhanced requirement of nutrients besides extra emotional and psychological changes. Female adolescents need extra attention because deficiencies in them will be a contributory factor for low birth weight of the babies produced by them and maternal deaths in future. Moreover, they represent a major part of the population as a whole and about one fifth of female population in the world (2). Nutritional Anemia is one of the major public health problems in the developing countries having not only an adverse impact on the overall efficiency of individuals, but also imposing an enhanced risk of morbidity due to infectious diseases. Although all age groups are at risk of suffering from Nutritional Anemia, yet adolescents face relatively a higher risk of it simply because of the gaps between the enhanced requirement of nutrients for their overall development and the actual intake. In the female adolescents, this is further aggravated