Abstract / Description
Background Anaemia remains a major public health problem among adolescent girls, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. Adolescence is associated with increased iron requirements due to rapid growth and the onset of menarche. In India, anaemia prevalence remains high despite ongoing national nutrition programmes, and district-level data remain limited in several regions. Methods A school-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 278 adolescent girls aged 13-17 years in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh. Data on socio-demographic, dietary, and menstrual factors were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Haemoglobin levels were measured using a point-of-care haemoglobinometer. For consistency across the study population, anaemia was defined as haemoglobin