Life Style of Female Student Nurses With Iron Deficiency Anemia

Abstract

Background: Anemia due to iron deficiency is considered a common global risk between female students nurses that have a serious effect on their academic performance. Aim: To assess the lifestyle of female student nurses with iron deficiency anemia. Design: A descriptive research design was utilized. Setting: Three Institutes Affiliated to the General Authority of Hospitals at El-Mataria educational Institute Nursing and El Galaa Educational Institutes and Al Sahel Educational Institute Nursing in Cairo. Sample: A purposive sample of 160 female student nurses. Tool: One tool was used for data collection, interviewing questionnaire consisted of 5 parts. part1: Demographic characteristics of female student nurses, part 2: Female students’ knowledge about iron deficiency anemia, part 3: Lifestyle of the female students with iron deficiency anemia, part 4: The health practice of the female students regarding the nutritional habits and part 5: Common health problems’ assessment. Results: It was found that more than half of the studied sample were less than 18 years. Also, more than half of them had moderate level of anemia. Moreover, there was a statistical insignificant relation between health knowledge and severity of iron deficiency anemia. On the other hand, there was a statistical insignificant correlation between the academic educational level and the severity of iron deficiency anemia. Conclusion: More than half of the female student nurses had poor knowledge; the majority of them had inadequate practice, low consumption of food items containing higher percentage of iron. Moreover, there was a statistical insignificant correlation between health practice regarding the nutritional and drinking habits, iron consumption and knowledge. Recommendations: Health education is necessary for female adolescent in these areas as to the importance of iron-rich foods and utilization of any available sources of iron. Physical surveillance for female students nurses must be available and continuous for early detection and treatment of health problems related to iron deficiency anemia.