Effectiveness of nutritional intervention in improving intelligence among adolescent girls

Iron deficiency anemia is most common nutritional deficiency disorder in India and remains a formidable health challenge. Iron deficiency leads to many health disturbances which include growth and development, depressed immune function in infants; reduces physical work capacity; decreases the cognitive function in adolescents. The study was conducted to assess the effectiveness of nutritional intervention in improving intelligence among adolescent girls. Objectives of the study • To assess the iron deficiency anemia and intelligence among adolescent girls with anemia. • To find out the effectiveness of nutritional intervention on intelligence among adolescent girls with anemia. • To find out the relationship between iron deficiency anemia and intelligence among adolescent girls with anemia. • To find out the association between the demographic variables and post test intelligence level of adolescent girls with anemia. Methods: A quantitative approach with true experimental, pre test and post test control group design was used for the study. Adolescent girls in the age group of 12–15 years studying in seventh to ninth standard were selected. Peripheral blood smear and hemoglobin level was estimated. For assessing the intelligence MALIN’S Intelligence Scale was used. In MALIN‟S scale, verbal response and performance were assessed. In verbal response, general information, arithmetic, similarities and digit span and in performance, picture completion, object assembly, coding and maize was used. Results: Majority (50%) of the study subjects had mild anemia and average intelligence level in the pretest of experimental and control group. Their intelligence level also increased in verbal response especially in arithmetic and digit span, the pretest mean value was 86.88 and post test - II mean value for digit span.