Prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among female university students in Jashore, Bangladesh

Abstract Background Anemia is a prevalent public health issue globally, particularly in developing countries, and significantly affects women of reproductive age in Bangladesh. This study examines the prevalence and associated factors of anemia among female students at Jashore University of Science...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Farjana Fardaus, Md. Nowshad Mahmud Choyon, Md. Sakhawot Hossain, Md. Obydullah, Farjana Khatun, Md. Hasibul Hasan Milton, Fakir Md. Shah Hafiz, Tanvir Ahmad
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2025-08-01
Series:Discover Public Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00857-3
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849333741213712384
author Farjana Fardaus
Md. Nowshad Mahmud Choyon
Md. Sakhawot Hossain
Md. Obydullah
Farjana Khatun
Md. Hasibul Hasan Milton
Fakir Md. Shah Hafiz
Tanvir Ahmad
author_facet Farjana Fardaus
Md. Nowshad Mahmud Choyon
Md. Sakhawot Hossain
Md. Obydullah
Farjana Khatun
Md. Hasibul Hasan Milton
Fakir Md. Shah Hafiz
Tanvir Ahmad
author_sort Farjana Fardaus
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Anemia is a prevalent public health issue globally, particularly in developing countries, and significantly affects women of reproductive age in Bangladesh. This study examines the prevalence and associated factors of anemia among female students at Jashore University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2023 to March 2024 among 401 randomly selected female students (18–28 years) at Jashore University of Science and Technology who did not report any known chronic illnesses or visible signs of acute illness at the time of data collection. A multi-stage sampling method was used. First, students were divided into two strata—those living in halls and those living off-campus—to compare the effect of institutional diet on anemia. Then, simple random sampling was applied within each stratum. Data on socio-demographics, anthropometry, clinical status, and dietary intake were collected through interviewer-administered structured questionnaires and direct measurements. Hemoglobin levels were assessed to determine anemia status. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 26), applying chi-square tests and binary logistic regression. Results Among the 401 participants, 42.9% (n = 172) were anemic, of whom 60.5% (n = 104) had mild anemia, 36.6% (n = 63) had moderate anemia, and 2.9% (n = 5) had severe anemia. Anemia was significantly more prevalent among individuals from lower-income households (10,000–25,000 BDT) [OR = 4.19, 95% CI: 1.92–9.15, p < 0.001] and those residing instudent halls [OR = 5.02, 95% CI: 1.28–19.76, p = 0.021]. Participants with low red meat consumption had notably higher odds of anemia [OR = 15.48, 95% CI: 3.01–79.54, p = 0.001]. A positive family history of anemia [OR = 8.93, 95% CI: 1.40–55.05, p = 0.021] and consuming tea or coffee soon after meals [OR = 5.79, 95% CI: 2.21–11.79, p = 0.001] were also identified as significant associated factors. Conclusion Anemia affected a substantial proportion of the study population, with significant associations observed for low family income, residential status, infrequent red meat consumption, family history of anemia, and improper timing of tea/coffee intake. These findings highlight the critical need for targeted dietary interventions and comprehensive awareness programs to reduce anemia prevalence among female university students.
format Article
id doaj-art-bce6077a1aba435092c3ffc8ccbce0ca
institution Kabale University
issn 3005-0774
language English
publishDate 2025-08-01
publisher Springer
record_format Article
series Discover Public Health
spelling doaj-art-bce6077a1aba435092c3ffc8ccbce0ca2025-08-20T03:45:45ZengSpringerDiscover Public Health3005-07742025-08-0122111810.1186/s12982-025-00857-3Prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among female university students in Jashore, BangladeshFarjana Fardaus0Md. Nowshad Mahmud Choyon1Md. Sakhawot Hossain2Md. Obydullah3Farjana Khatun4Md. Hasibul Hasan Milton5Fakir Md. Shah Hafiz6Tanvir Ahmad7Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Jashore University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nutrition and Food Technology, Jashore University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nutrition and Food Technology, Jashore University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nutrition and Food Technology, Jashore University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nutrition and Food Technology, Jashore University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nutrition and Food Technology, Jashore University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nutrition and Food Technology, Jashore University of Science and TechnologyDepartment of Nutrition and Food Technology, Jashore University of Science and TechnologyAbstract Background Anemia is a prevalent public health issue globally, particularly in developing countries, and significantly affects women of reproductive age in Bangladesh. This study examines the prevalence and associated factors of anemia among female students at Jashore University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted from November 2023 to March 2024 among 401 randomly selected female students (18–28 years) at Jashore University of Science and Technology who did not report any known chronic illnesses or visible signs of acute illness at the time of data collection. A multi-stage sampling method was used. First, students were divided into two strata—those living in halls and those living off-campus—to compare the effect of institutional diet on anemia. Then, simple random sampling was applied within each stratum. Data on socio-demographics, anthropometry, clinical status, and dietary intake were collected through interviewer-administered structured questionnaires and direct measurements. Hemoglobin levels were assessed to determine anemia status. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS (version 26), applying chi-square tests and binary logistic regression. Results Among the 401 participants, 42.9% (n = 172) were anemic, of whom 60.5% (n = 104) had mild anemia, 36.6% (n = 63) had moderate anemia, and 2.9% (n = 5) had severe anemia. Anemia was significantly more prevalent among individuals from lower-income households (10,000–25,000 BDT) [OR = 4.19, 95% CI: 1.92–9.15, p < 0.001] and those residing instudent halls [OR = 5.02, 95% CI: 1.28–19.76, p = 0.021]. Participants with low red meat consumption had notably higher odds of anemia [OR = 15.48, 95% CI: 3.01–79.54, p = 0.001]. A positive family history of anemia [OR = 8.93, 95% CI: 1.40–55.05, p = 0.021] and consuming tea or coffee soon after meals [OR = 5.79, 95% CI: 2.21–11.79, p = 0.001] were also identified as significant associated factors. Conclusion Anemia affected a substantial proportion of the study population, with significant associations observed for low family income, residential status, infrequent red meat consumption, family history of anemia, and improper timing of tea/coffee intake. These findings highlight the critical need for targeted dietary interventions and comprehensive awareness programs to reduce anemia prevalence among female university students.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00857-3AnemiaKAPPrevalenceDietary habitsFemale Bangladeshi students
spellingShingle Farjana Fardaus
Md. Nowshad Mahmud Choyon
Md. Sakhawot Hossain
Md. Obydullah
Farjana Khatun
Md. Hasibul Hasan Milton
Fakir Md. Shah Hafiz
Tanvir Ahmad
Prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among female university students in Jashore, Bangladesh
Discover Public Health
Anemia
KAP
Prevalence
Dietary habits
Female Bangladeshi students
title Prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among female university students in Jashore, Bangladesh
title_full Prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among female university students in Jashore, Bangladesh
title_fullStr Prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among female university students in Jashore, Bangladesh
title_full_unstemmed Prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among female university students in Jashore, Bangladesh
title_short Prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among female university students in Jashore, Bangladesh
title_sort prevalence of anemia and its associated factors among female university students in jashore bangladesh
topic Anemia
KAP
Prevalence
Dietary habits
Female Bangladeshi students
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-025-00857-3
work_keys_str_mv AT farjanafardaus prevalenceofanemiaanditsassociatedfactorsamongfemaleuniversitystudentsinjashorebangladesh
AT mdnowshadmahmudchoyon prevalenceofanemiaanditsassociatedfactorsamongfemaleuniversitystudentsinjashorebangladesh
AT mdsakhawothossain prevalenceofanemiaanditsassociatedfactorsamongfemaleuniversitystudentsinjashorebangladesh
AT mdobydullah prevalenceofanemiaanditsassociatedfactorsamongfemaleuniversitystudentsinjashorebangladesh
AT farjanakhatun prevalenceofanemiaanditsassociatedfactorsamongfemaleuniversitystudentsinjashorebangladesh
AT mdhasibulhasanmilton prevalenceofanemiaanditsassociatedfactorsamongfemaleuniversitystudentsinjashorebangladesh
AT fakirmdshahhafiz prevalenceofanemiaanditsassociatedfactorsamongfemaleuniversitystudentsinjashorebangladesh
AT tanvirahmad prevalenceofanemiaanditsassociatedfactorsamongfemaleuniversitystudentsinjashorebangladesh