Effectiveness of Amla Juice with Honey to Improve Hemoglobin Levels in Adolescent Girls with Anemia

Statement of the Problem

The present study aimed to assess the effectiveness of amla juice with honey in improving the hemoglobin levels in adolescent girls with anemia, in a selected community area at Kulasekharam.

Objectives of the Problem

1. To estimate the prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls.

2. To assess the degree of anemia among adolescent girls.

3. To assess the effectiveness of amla juice with honey in improving the hemoglobin levels in adolescent girls with anemia.

4. To determine the association between the hemoglobin levels of adolescent girls and selected demographic variables such as age, education, family income, education of the parents, religion, pallor, age at menarche and diet pattern.

Hypothesis

1. There will be a significant improvement in hemoglobin levels in adolescent girls with anemia after the administration of amla juice with honey.

2. There will be a significant association between hemoglobin levels of adolescent girls and their selected socio-demographic variables such as age, education, family income, education of the parents, religion, pallor, age at menarche and diet pattern.

Methodology

Research Approach: Quantitative evaluative research approach.

Research Design: Quasi experimental with One group Pre- and Post-test design.

Research Setting: Marappadi Village, Kulashekhram, Kanyakumari District.

Target population: All the adolescent girls from Marappadi village.

Accessible population: Adolescent girls who fulfilled the inclusion criteria.

Sampling Technique: Purposive Sampling Technique.

Sample Size: 50 adolescents

Variables under Study

Independent Variables: Amla juice with honey.

Dependent Variables: Hemoglobin levels among adolescent girls.

Demographic Variables: Age, education, family income, education of parents, religion, pallor, age at menarche and diet pattern.

Validity of the tool: Content validity of the tool was established on the basis of opinion of five experts.

Reliability: The reliability of the tool was identified by test-retest (r-1.00) method using Spearman rank correlation formula. The r - value was 1.00. Hence, the tool was reliable.

Description of the tool: The tool consisted of two parts

Section A – Demographic Variables

This section dealt with demographic variables such as age, education, family income, education of the parents, religion, pallor, age at menarche and diet pattern.

Section B – Digital Hemoglobin Meter

This instrument was used to estimate the hemoglobin levels in adolescent girls. The level of anemia was classified as follows: 10-11gm/dL - Mild anemia. 7-10gm/dL - Moderate anemia. <7gm/dL – Severe anemia.

Data Analysis

The statistical methods used for the analysis were descriptive statistics such as frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. The effectiveness of amla juice with honey was analyzed using ‘t’ test. The association between the variables was analyzed by using chi-square test.

Major Findings

Section A: This section deals with the distribution of the study subjects based on their demographic variables

The findings demonstrated that out of 50 subjects, 52% belonged to the age group of 13-15 years, 48% were in the age group of 16-19 years. Regarding the religion of the selected subjects, 46% were Hindus, 32% were Christians and 22% were Muslims.

Regarding the educational status of the subjects, 52% were in high school, 12% in higher secondary school and 36% were in college. Pertaining to the educational status of the parent (father), 80% had qualification below 12^th std, 14% were graduates and 6% were post graduates. Regarding the educational status of the selected subjects’ mother, 88% had qualification below 12^th std, 8% were graduates and 4% were postgraduates.

In relation to socio-economic status, 78% belonged to lower socioeconomic status, 22% were from middle, while none of the subjects belonged to upper socioeconomic status. In relation to pallor, 56% of the subjects had the symptoms of pallor and 44% of the subjects had no pallor. Regarding diet pattern of the subjects, 20% were vegetarians and 80% were nonvegetarians.

Section B: This section deals with prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls.

I. Prevalence of anemia among adolescent girls (N=176)

The findings of the present study showed that 48.2% of the adolescent girls were anemic and 51.7% were not anemic.

II. Degree of anemia among adolescent girls (N=85)

The findings showed that among 85 anemic adolescent girls, 35.3% were mildly anemic, 63.6% had moderate anemia and 1.1% of the adolescent girls were severely anemic.

Section C:  Degree of Anemia among selected adolescent girls

The findings showed that 64% of the adolescent girls tested were moderately anemic, 34% were mildly anemic and only 2% were severely anemic.

Section D: Effectiveness of amla Juice in improving hemoglobin levels.  

1. The pre-test mean value was 9.16 and pre-test SD was 1.29. The post-test mean value was 11.4 and post-test SD was 1.29. 2. The mean difference was 2.24. 3. The calculated ‘t’ value was 7.12 which was higher than the table value 2.021 4. Hence, there was an improvement in hemoglobin levels after the administration of amla juice with honey in adolescent girls with anemia. 

Limitations

1.  The sample size of the adolescent girls was 50 and hence generalization is not possible. 
2. The data collection period was only one month. 
3. The study was limited to the adolescent girls of Marappadi village, at Kulasekharam during the period of data collection. 
4. Extraneous variables were controlled only to some extent.

Recommendations

1.  The study may be replicated with randomization in a larger sample. 
2. Nurse researchers can conduct studies related to other types of alternative therapies in improving hemoglobin levels. 
3. Further studies can be conducted by including more number of variables and at different geographic locations.
4. Investigations to compare the degree of anemia among adolescent girls living in urban and rural areas can be planned.