Effectiveness of Dietary Counseling on Improvement of Hemoglobin Level among Adolescents Girls at Selected School of Loni Village

Abstract

Aims: This study evaluated the effectiveness of dietary counseling on the improvement of hemoglobin (HB) levels among adolescent girls.

Introduction: Unhealthy eating habits, exacerbated insufficient nutritional knowledge, significantly contribute to anemia in adolescents.

Objectives: To assess the HB level among adolescent girls at selected schools of Loni, to evaluate the effectiveness of dietary counseling on HB improvement and to determine the association between the post-test HB with their selected demographic variables.

Materials and Methods: A quasi experimental pre- and post-test study was conducted on 200 adolescent girls aged 10–14 years from the selected school of Loni village. HB levels were assessed pre- and post-counseling using Sahil’s method. Participants received 3-months of dietary counseling statistical analysis involved descriptive and inferential methods.

Results: Study findings show that before dietary counseling HB level among subjects pre-test mean score was (9.11 ± 0.6) whereas after dietary counseling the post-test mean score was (11.41 ± 0.52) and the “t” value was (18.48) at 0.001. There was a significant association between the post-test HB level at the type of diet, Duration of the menstrual cycle, and menstrual flow at P < 0.05 level.

Conclusion: The study finding shows that dietary counseling was effective in improving the HB level. Nutrition education programs led to notable enhancements in the nutritional well-being and HB levels among adolescents.