Abstract:
The objective of the study was to assess the prevalence of anaemia among employees at
Sathosa, and to detect some contributory factors for anaemia. Hundred and ninety three
subjects in the age group between 20-59 were selected randomly and their iron and
nutritional status was assessed using a questionnaire on socio-economic data, clinical
symptoms, anthropometric measures, food frequency patterns, and the hemoglobin
concentration was estimated by using cyanmeth hemoglobin method. In addition to this an
educational and therapeutic intervention was conducted for a period of eight weeks. Anemia
appeared to be a problem in female employees more than males. The income level had a
negative correlation to anemia. Generalized body weakness was a significant clinical feature
in our study subject being commoner in females. The body mass index was within normal
range for both male and female workers. They did not have a protein energy deficiency. The
educational and therapeutic intervention had been beneficial to the total study population
reducing the prevalence of anemia in male workers from 39.1 per cent to 25.7 per cent and
in female workers from 80.8 per cent to 43.6 per cent respectively. The effect of ferrous
sulphate supplementation was greater in the female workers while it was not significant in
the male workers. This may probably be due to the body iron content of individuals. Since
the male workers had a mean hemoglobin concentration more than 130g/l they were already
in iron balance and the absorption of iron from the duodenum would have been lower than
for females. Educational intervention had been most beneficial to the younger age group
females, and older age group males. Educational messages should be repeated periodically
to reinforce the importance of certain food habits and personal habits to prevent anaemia
