India has probably the highest
prevalence of nutritional anemia in women and children. About half of the non
pregnant women and young children are estimated to suffer from anemia.60-70% of
pregnant women are anemic. 20-40% of maternal deaths are attributed to anemia.
By far, the most frequent cause of nutritional anemia is iron deficiency and
less frequent cause is folic acid and vitamin B12 deficiency1. Anemia
is defined as a condition in which the hemoglobin concentration in the body is
below the normal values (12 gm% for females & 13gm% for males).
It is preferable that every
individual should know his/her blood group so that no time is wasted during
emergency for determining blood group prior to blood transfusion. With these
aspects in mind, an anemia and blood group detection camp was held in ESI
dispensary Bicholim on 5th March 2013 on occasion of ESI day
celebrations; for the ESI beneficiaries (Insured person and family members). A
health talk on anemia was given by the chief guest of the function, Dr Laxmi
Narayan a practicing gynecologist. The causes, treatment and preventive aspects
of the same were highlighted.
Hemoglobin testing was done using Sahli's
method and blood typing done using monoclonal blood typing antibodies for slide
test. Hemoglobin results were classified as “normal', “mild anemia”, “moderate
anemia” and “severe anemia” based on WHO reference values2. Blood
grouping was done on basis of ABO and Rh typing i.e. A+, A-, B+, B-, AB+, AB-,
O+ and O-.
A total of 51 people participated
in camp, of which male were 25 (49.02%) and 26 were females. Most of the patients i.e. 47% were
between 31-50years and 9.8% were above 60 years. The Prevalance of mild and
moderate anemia were 37.25% and 13.73% respectively, with moderate anemia were
detected in only female patients.There was no individual with
severe anemia.
With respect to blood group,
31.37% individuals were B+; 25.48% were O+; 21.57% A+; 3.92% who were B- and 1.96%
was A-. There were no individuals with O- blood type.
References
1.
Parks Textbook of Preventive and Social Medicine, 19th edition, page
622.
2.
Hemoglobin Concentration for the diagnosis of anemia and assessment of
severity. WHO/NMH/MNM/11.1
Dr
Saroj S. Salelkar
Insurance
Medical Officer
ESI
Dispensary
Bicholim-Goa
