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Anaemia in teenage mothers is focus of Nutrition Awareness Week
Pregnant teenagers are slated to be the primary targets as the Food Policy Division of the Ministry of Public Health observes Nutrition Awareness Week – July 19-25, 2015.
The intended group is a strategic one, in light of the fact that it has been ascertained that the prevalence of anaemia in pregnant teenagers is of troubling proportions.
The observance this week, which is being observed under the theme, “Healthy eating and active living: you, your health and your future,” is expected to be characterized mainly by educational sessions.
This is according to Nutritionist attached to the Food Policy Division, Abigail Caleb, who disclosed yesterday that sessions will be held on Thursday and Friday at the Ocean View International Hotel and Convention Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.
It is expected that by the end of the week, teenage mothers from Georgetown, the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara will be exposed to education and practical sessions on safe motherhood; healthy diet and meal planning; anaemia (including the use of sprinkles); early childhood development (focusing on breastfeeding) and empowering teens to return to school.
According to information out of the Food Policy Division, a ‘Survey of Iron, Iodine and Vitamin A Status and Antibody Levels in Guyana (2012)’ was able to uncover valuable information as it relates to the iron status of the population.
Based on World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, 24 percent of young children under five years old, 20.8 percent of school children and 41.3 percent of antenatal women were anaemic.
Anaemia is a major public health problem in both developing and developed countries. In Guyana and the Caribbean, it has been attributed to poor dietary intake and utilisation. Although there are other causes, it is most often a reflection of iron deficiency, which is the most common and widespread nutritional disorder in Guyana.
As a consequence of its effects on health, anaemia can lead to a reduction in work capacity, endurance and impaired brain function.
In adults, this, coupled with a decreased resistance to infection, results in impaired ability of adults to earn an income, care for their families and carry out daily tasks. Children who are anaemic can become inattentive, irritable and fatigued. They are likely to have shorter attention spans and the learning process in these children is retarded, hence school achievement is less, and they are likely to score lower on tests than children who are not anaemic.
The 41.3 percent prevalence of anaemia among pregnant women is of public health significance. Furthermore, a significant percentage of pregnant women with anaemia were 20 years old and younger (51.0 per cent).
Moreover, to help combat iron deficiency anaemia, the Food Policy Division made the informed decision to conduct several anaemia awareness activities among the Guyanese population.
A total of 60 pregnant teenage girls, the youngest being 14, have been identified for the planned sensitization sessions.
During this week, too, the Food Policy Division will also have a presence at health centres in Georgetown, the East Coast and East Bank of Demerara, according to Caleb. She disclosed that while the observance of this Nutrition Awareness Week will see teenage mothers being the main focus, it is expected that teenage boys will later in the year be targets for sensitization.
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