Anemia and its main risk factors : a sociocultural study of a sample of Kuwaiti University students

Abstract EN

Anemia is a significant public health concern that frequently affects children and women of reproductive age.

However, few studies have been conducted to detect the prevalence of Anemia among Kuwaiti University students.

This is a cross-sectional study that examined the association between students’ sociodemographic variables and (1) their knowledge of Anemia (factors and symptoms), (2) their attitudes toward seeking treatment, (3) their lifestyle behaviors (physical activity and dietary habits), and (4) their main sources of information about Anemia.

A total of 360 Kuwaiti students aged 18 to 30 years were selected.

The participants completed a self-administrated survey comprised of sociodemographic characteristics, Anemia risk factor scale, the most common Anemia symptoms scale, and sources of Anemia information.

Descriptive statistics, a t-test, and ANOVA were used to analyze the data.

The prevalence of Anemia among the participants was 21.7%, and the incidence was more frequent among female students (18.2%).

This study demonstrated the following participant responses: the family were the main sources of information about Anemia; dizziness, pallor, and hair loss were the most common symptoms of Anemia; and iron deficiency, heredity, and fast food consumption were the most common risk factors for Anemia.

Moreover, the participants’ sex and religious affiliations were significantly associated with hearing about Anemia, and the participants’ ages and educational levels were significantly associated with deficiencies that can cause Anemia.

Finally, knowledge about Anemia’s risk factors was significantly associated with the participants’ age, and knowledge about Anemia’s common symptoms was significantly associated with the participants’ sex.