Prevalence and Determinants of Anaemia in Undergraduate Medical Students: Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Anemia is a common public health issue, especially among young people, including medical students, who may disregard their health because of irregular food intake and academic stress. To encourage early intervention and preventative measures, it is crucial to determine the prevalence of anemia in this group and the risk factors that are linked to it. Materials and Methods: At a tertiary care teaching institution, 300 undergraduate medical students between the ages of 18 and 25 participated in a cross-sectional study. A systematic questionnaire measuring lifestyle characteristics, menstruation history (for females), and food habits was filled out by the participants. An automated hematological analyzer was used to measure the amounts of hemoglobin. WHO criteria were used to classify anemia. SPSS version 24 was used for statistical analysis. Significant relationships were found using logistic regression and chi-square testing. Results: Out of 300 undergraduate medical students, 43.3% were found to be anemic. Mild anemia was most prevalent (62.31%), followed by moderate (26.15%) and severe anemia (11.54%). Anemia showed a significant association with inadequate iron intake, irregular meal patterns, and heavy menstrual bleeding. High academic stress demonstrated a borderline association with anemia status. Conclusion: Nutritional and lifestyle variables have a major influence in the high prevalence of anemia among undergraduate medical students. To treat this problem early on, dietary modifications, regular screenings, and awareness campaigns are advised.