Assessment of Dietary Habits for Adolescent Girls Diagnosed with Iron Deficiency Anemia in Kirkuk Secondary Schools

Abstract

Objective(s): To assess the eating habits of adolescent females with iron deficient anemia.

Methodology: This study employed a quantitative research, descriptive evaluation design.The study was carried out on adolescent girls attending Kirkuk secondary school, period from 11 April to 27 December 2022. A non- probability (Purposive) sample has been applied to obtain the study goals. The study sample was (62) student who participate in the study.

Results: Pre-test results from the study revealed that 54.8% of students had moderate IDA. While the students' iron levels returned to normal in the posttest (53.2%). The majority of students (59.7%) had poor eating habits at the time of the pretest. While a healthy dietary pattern is present at the posttest (66.1%). The majority of students (80.6%) have headaches, (82.3%) had menarche between the ages of 13 and 14, and (29%) had a history of IDA..

Conclusion: )59.7%) of students have poor dietary pattern. According to the results of this study, the majority of participants—students of teenage girls—can recognize foods that contain iron, but they don't consume enough of it due to their eating patterns and diets.

Recommendations: More work and creative solutions are needed to create and implement programs to prevent and control iron deficiency anemia in our country. Nutrition education programs.