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Research Paper | Hematology | Volume 15 Issue 3, March 2026 | Pages: 1493 - 1496 | India
Prevalence of Anemia Among Tribal and Non-Tribal Male and Female College Students of Tripura: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study
Abstract: Background: Anemia remains a significant public health challenge in India, affecting various demographic groups. Tripura, a northeastern state with a substantial tribal population, presents a unique socio-cultural and nutritional landscape. College students, a transitional demographic, are often overlooked in anemia surveillance. This study aimed to determine and compare the prevalence of anemia among tribal and non-tribal male and female college students in Tripura. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 400 college students (200 tribal, 200 non-tribal) aged 18-25 years from selected colleges in West Tripura district. Hemoglobin (Hb) levels were estimated using an autoanalyzer. Anemia was classified using World Health Organization (WHO) criteria. Data on socio-demographic factors, dietary habits, and menstrual history (for females) were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25.0, employing Chi-square tests and logistic regression. Results: The overall prevalence of anemia was 48.5%. A significantly higher prevalence was observed among tribal students (59.5%) compared to non-tribal students (37.5%) (p < 0.001). Female students had a higher prevalence (61.0%) than male students (36.0%) across both groups. The highest prevalence was found in tribal females (73.0%), followed by non-tribal females (49.0%), tribal males (46.0%), and non-tribal males (26.0%). Moderate anemia was the most common category. Factors significantly associated with anemia included tribal ethnicity (AOR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.5-3.8), female gender (AOR: 2.8, 95% CI: 1.8-4.3), vegetarian dietary pattern, and low monthly family income. Conclusion: Anemia is a severe public health problem among college students in Tripura, with tribal students, particularly females, bearing a disproportionately higher burden. Targeted interventions, including nutritional supplementation, health education, and addressing socio-economic disparities, are urgently needed in this population.
Keywords: Anemia, Tribal, Non-Tribal, College Students, Tripura, Hemoglobin, Prevalence
How to Cite?: Dr. Jayathiee Sen, Binay Biswas, Debajyoti Datta, Sani Das, Shitesh Ghosh, Subhrajit Debnath, "Prevalence of Anemia Among Tribal and Non-Tribal Male and Female College Students of Tripura: A Comparative Cross-Sectional Study", Volume 15 Issue 3, March 2026, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR), Pages: 1493-1496, https://www.ijsr.net/getabstract.php?paperid=SR26321231407, DOI: https://dx.dx.doi.org/10.21275/SR26321231407