Iron Status and Iron Deficiency Anaemia in Adolescents in a Tanzanian Suburban Area

Abstract

Anaemia (Hb <105 g/l) was highly prevalent in adolescent primigravidae (75.5%). Adolescent girls were more anaemic (Hb <120 g/l) than boys (14.5 vs. 7.9%). Iron deficiency and hookworm infestation were predominant in both groups of adolescents, however, malaria contributed more to anaemia in the primigravidae. Nearly 40% of the anaemic primigravidae had indication of infection, and S-ferritin was less useful as a marker of iron deficiency in this group. sTfR identified iron deficiency in both pregnant and non-pregnant adolescents.